deficit spending

noun

: the spending of public funds raised by borrowing rather than by taxation

Examples of deficit spending in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Trump, despite his populist rhetoric, deficit spending, and support for market-distorting tariffs, has sold himself as a pro-business candidate. Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2024 Inflation and high prices result from deficit spending and government red tape. The Denver Post, 11 Oct. 2024 The German government, meanwhile, could unilaterally engineer a rise in domestic wages (by, say, strengthening unions’ bargaining rights) and increase deficit spending. Andrew Moravcsik, Foreign Affairs, 17 Oct. 2016 Congress spent trillions during the pandemic and makes the problem worse through annual deficit spending – adding $2 trillion this year and another $2 trillion next year to the overall debt. The Denver Post, 11 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for deficit spending 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'deficit spending.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1938, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of deficit spending was in 1938

Dictionary Entries Near deficit spending

Cite this Entry

“Deficit spending.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deficit%20spending. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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