Synonyms

public debt

American

noun

national debt.

public debt British

noun

the total financial obligations incurred by all governmental bodies of a nation
another name for national debt

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of public debt

First recorded in 1715–25

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The continuing rise in public debt also "remains a major issue" to keep in mind, Georgieva said.

From Barron's

Japan has a long list of problems: sluggish growth, public debt that is the largest in the world, and a working population that is both ageing and shrinking.

From BBC

It has more than $38 trillion in public debt, making it particularly vulnerable to any fallout from Japan’s policies.

From Barron's

Poland must also contend with rising public debt.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023