national debt

noun

: the total amount of money that the government of a country owes to companies, countries, etc.

Examples of national debt in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The national debt now exceeds $35 trillion; interest payments on that debt surpass defense spending. Dan Caldwell, Foreign Affairs, 13 Nov. 2024 Malloy also questioned Sanders on the national debt, while Sanders pointed to GOP resistance to tax reform as an obstacle. Jeremy Yurow, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024 The federal deficit and debt: Getting bigger Another issue is the national debt and the nation's growing deficit, with both candidates' economic proposals projected to add trillions to the country's debt. Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 29 Oct. 2024 Inflation has emerged as a top economic concern among voters, but taxes, tariffs and other topics also figure prominently, as do the repercussions of policies on the national debt. Russ Wiles, The Arizona Republic, 27 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for national debt 

Dictionary Entries Near national debt

Cite this Entry

“National debt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/national%20debt. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on national debt

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!