debited; debiting; debits
: to enter upon the debit side of an account : charge with a debit
1
a
: a record of an indebtedness
specifically
: an entry on the left-hand side of an account constituting an addition to an expense or asset account or a deduction from a revenue, net worth, or liability account
b
: the sum of the items entered as debits
2
: a charge against a bank deposit account
3
Synonyms
Examples of debit in a Sentence
Verb
The bank mistakenly debited my account $200!
Your account will automatically be debited for the amount of your insurance bill every month.
Noun
I forgot to enter some of the debits in my bank account register.
The account's credits were added and the debits subtracted.
a $30 debit for groceries
Recent Examples on the Web
Chloe Berger, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2023
Were your payments being automatically debited from your checking account?
—Janet Novack, Forbes, 13 Aug. 2023
Motorists with the devices can expect to have their toll debited automatically from an account as usual.
—Brennon Dixson, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2023
Through April, the Orioles ranked 29th in the majors with minus-13 outs above average, which Statcast uses to measure the cumulative effect of all individual plays a fielder has been credited or debited with.
—Jacob Calvin Meyer, Baltimore Sun, 12 May 2023
Some people with student loans received a notice Thursday from their servicer that their next payment would automatically debit at the beginning of next month — but the Education Department said any communications from servicers about payments restarting was sent in error.
—Sarah Ewall-Wice, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2022
Cea Weaver, an organizer with the New York–based Housing Justice for All, told me that one tenant on rent strike said that her landlord attempted to debit an entire year of rent from her bank account.
—Clio Chang, The New Republic, 1 Mar. 2021
In the fall of 2021, the company required all franchisees to sign a new agreement allowing Unleashed to automatically debit their bank accounts.
—Michael Corkery, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2023
That means that your payment will be debited from your bank account, rather than adding to your credit card balance.
—Aimee Picchi, USA TODAY, 6 June 2020
Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 31 Oct. 2023
According to his plea agreement and related documents, Luciano spent the misappropriated funds by writing checks from the union’s account, as well as using its debit and credit accounts to pay for personal expenses directly.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Sep. 2023
Make sure to bring a credit, debit or gift card — vendors do not accept cash.
—Jessica Roy, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2023
More importantly, however, handing Musk the details to one’s credit or debit account will attract merchants to the platform looking to sell their goods and services directly to the Tesla CEO’s customers.
—Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2023
Armed robbery An iPhone, debit/credit and insurance cards and a grocery bag containing cash were reported stolen July 13 when a man allegedly entered a vehicle parked in the 1000 block of Lake Street, gave verbal demands and struck male in the vehicle with a handgun.
—Chicago Tribune, 2 Aug. 2023
The Durbin Amendment on debit adds complexity for transit systems.
—Tom Groenfeldt, Forbes, 20 Apr. 2023
The Bank of Ireland, however, warns that all withdrawals will still appear as a debit on customer accounts.
—Wyatte Grantham-Philips, Fortune, 16 Aug. 2023
Since no one controls the network, no centralized account automatically records debits and credits.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 4 May 2023
See More
Verb
But despite the slight uptick in gig work, BofA data shows their credit and debit spending growth is still slower than that of baby boomers.
—Chloe Berger, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2023
Were your payments being automatically debited from your checking account?
—Janet Novack, Forbes, 13 Aug. 2023
Motorists with the devices can expect to have their toll debited automatically from an account as usual.
—Brennon Dixson, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2023
Through April, the Orioles ranked 29th in the majors with minus-13 outs above average, which Statcast uses to measure the cumulative effect of all individual plays a fielder has been credited or debited with.
—Jacob Calvin Meyer, Baltimore Sun, 12 May 2023
Some people with student loans received a notice Thursday from their servicer that their next payment would automatically debit at the beginning of next month — but the Education Department said any communications from servicers about payments restarting was sent in error.
—Sarah Ewall-Wice, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2022
Cea Weaver, an organizer with the New York–based Housing Justice for All, told me that one tenant on rent strike said that her landlord attempted to debit an entire year of rent from her bank account.
—Clio Chang, The New Republic, 1 Mar. 2021
In the fall of 2021, the company required all franchisees to sign a new agreement allowing Unleashed to automatically debit their bank accounts.
—Michael Corkery, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2023
That means that your payment will be debited from your bank account, rather than adding to your credit card balance.
—Aimee Picchi, USA TODAY, 6 June 2020
Noun
Reese was found carrying a small paring knife, a crack pipe, debit and credit cards belonging to an individual whose name was redacted and a Hyundai key fob, according to the affidavit.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 31 Oct. 2023
According to his plea agreement and related documents, Luciano spent the misappropriated funds by writing checks from the union’s account, as well as using its debit and credit accounts to pay for personal expenses directly.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Sep. 2023
Make sure to bring a credit, debit or gift card — vendors do not accept cash.
—Jessica Roy, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2023
More importantly, however, handing Musk the details to one’s credit or debit account will attract merchants to the platform looking to sell their goods and services directly to the Tesla CEO’s customers.
—Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2023
Armed robbery An iPhone, debit/credit and insurance cards and a grocery bag containing cash were reported stolen July 13 when a man allegedly entered a vehicle parked in the 1000 block of Lake Street, gave verbal demands and struck male in the vehicle with a handgun.
—Chicago Tribune, 2 Aug. 2023
The Durbin Amendment on debit adds complexity for transit systems.
—Tom Groenfeldt, Forbes, 20 Apr. 2023
The Bank of Ireland, however, warns that all withdrawals will still appear as a debit on customer accounts.
—Wyatte Grantham-Philips, Fortune, 16 Aug. 2023
Since no one controls the network, no centralized account automatically records debits and credits.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 4 May 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'debit.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing debit
Dictionary Entries Near debit
Cite this Entry
“Debit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/debit. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
debit
1 of 2 verb
deb·it
ˈdeb-ət 
: to enter as a debit : charge with or as a debt
debit
2 of 2 noun
: an entry in an account representing an amount paid out or owed
More from Merriam-Webster on debit
Nglish: Translation of debit for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of debit for Arabic Speakers
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share