First Known Use: 13th century
Dictionary
debt
noun \ˈdet\
: an amount of money that you owe to a person, bank, company, etc.
: the state of owing money to someone or something
: the fact that you have been influenced or helped by someone or something
Full Definition of DEBT
2
: something owed : obligation <unable to pay off his debts>
3
: a state of owing <deeply in debt>
4
: the common-law action for the recovery of money held to be due
— debt·less \-ləs\ adjective
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Origin of DEBT
Middle English dette, debte, from Anglo-French dette something owed, from Vulgar Latin *debita, from Latin, plural of debitum debt, from neuter of debitus, past participle of debēre to owe, from de- + habēre to have — more at give
Related to DEBT
- Synonyms
- arrearage, arrears, indebtedness, liability (usually liabilities), obligation, score
- Antonyms
- noncrime
Other Economics Terms
DEBTS Defined for Kids
debt
noun \ˈdet\
Definition of DEBT for Kids
1
: 1sin 1 <We ask forgiveness of our debts.>
2
: something owed to another
3
: the condition of owing something <I am in debt to you for all your help.>
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