Dictionary

debt en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• [ˈdɛt]
• /ˈdɛp(t)/
• /ˈdɛt/
• (US) audio
• /ˈdɛbt/

Etymology

From Middle English dette, dett, borrowed from Old French dete (French dette), from Medieval Latin dēbita, from Latin dēbitum (“what is owed, a debt, a duty”), neuter of dēbitus, perfect passive participle of dēbeō (“to owe”), contraction of *dehibeō (“I have from”), from de (“from”) + habeō (“to have”). Doublet of debit. Displaced native Old English eofot. The unpronounced "b" in the modern English spelling is a Latinisation from the Latin etymon dēbitum.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) An action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another, adopt toward another, or give to another.
   • This long debt of confidence, due from me to him, whose bane and ruin I have been, shall at length be paid. 1850, Nathaniel Hawthorne, chapter 14, in The Scarlet Letter:
   • Revenge the jeering and disdain'd contempt / Of this proud king, who studies day and night / To answer all the debt he owes to you / Even with the bloody payment of your deaths. 1589, William Shakespeare, Henry IV, Part I, act 1, scene 3:
2. (countable, uncountable) The state or condition of owing something to another.
   • I am in your debt.
   • Hey! Wait! I've got a new complaint / Forever in debt to your priceless advice 1993, Kurt Cobain, “Heart-Shaped Box”, in In Utero, performed by Nirvana:
   • We owe them a debt of gratitude for taking care of our pets.
   • The petty ſtreames that paie a dailie det / To their ſalt ſoveraigne with their freſh fals haſt, / Adde to his flowe, but alter not his taſt. 1594, William Shakespeare, Lucrece (First Quarto), London: […] Richard Field, for Iohn Harrison, […], →OCLC:
3. (countable, uncountable) Money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another, generally as a result of a loan or other financial transaction.
   • I don't own any stocks or bonds. All my money is tied up in debt. 2004, George Carlin, When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops?, New York: Hyperion Books, →ISBN, →OCLC, →OL, page 213:
   • Private-equity nabobs bristle at being dubbed mere financiers. Piling debt onto companies’ balance-sheets is only a small part of what leveraged buy-outs are about, they insist. Improving the workings of the businesses they take over is just as core to their calling, if not more so. Much of their pleading is public-relations bluster. 2013 June 22, “Engineers of a different kind”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8841, page 70:
   • Bolsheviki had repudiated the four-billion-dollar debt which the government of the Tsar had contracted with the bankers. 1919, Upton Sinclair, chapter 15, in Jimmie Higgins:
4. (countable, uncountable) An action at law to recover a certain specified sum of money alleged to be due

Forms

Deriveds

acquisition debt · debt of nature · debt burden · phantom debt · tech debt · debtholder · debt-ridden · mezzanine debt · debt instrument · dequity · debt of honour · zombie debt · collateralized debt obligation · bad debt · domestic debt · debt collector · toxic debt · external debt · carbon debt · debt slavery · privileged debt · technical debt · debt-financed · sovereign debt · European debt crisis · book debt · debt trap · antidebt · odious debt · debt release · debt ceiling · debt-free · public debt · debt-equity ratio · sleep debt · debted · robo-debt · debt relief · debt-for-nature · bonded debt · debt enforcement · national debt · debt of honor · in debt · nonfinancial debt · debtee · debt exchange · karmic debt · secured debt · debt bondage · government debt · debt-laden · debtlike · nondebt · foreign debt · debt collection · debt trap diplomacy · pay the debt of nature · pay one's debt to society · debt slave · pay nature's debt · debt obligation · oxygen debt · unsecured debt · margin debt · in someone's debt · debtless · megadebt

Relateds

debitor · owe · debit · debtor · indebted

Translations (283)

he חוֹב (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · ko 부채 (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · sh dȗg (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · ar قَرْض (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · ba оҙаҡ (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · eo ŝuldo (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · lb Schold (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · gd fiach (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · unm lèkhamweokàn (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · nl schulden (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · unm lèkhamweokàn (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · be доўг (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · tsg utang (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · lt įsiskolinimas (state or condition of owing something to another) · az qərz (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · nrf dette (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · fa-ira بِدِهی (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · hy պարտք (state or condition of owing something to another) · oc deute (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · cmn 人情債 /人情债 (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · de Schulden (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · ba бурыс (state or condition of owing something to another) · mn өр (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · ne ऋण (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · cv парӑм (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · hu tartozás (state or condition of owing something to another) · ce декхар (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · ru задо́лженность (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · mr कर्ज (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · tr borç (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · alt алым (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · ps دين (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · mwl díbeda (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · sv skuld (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · hy պարտք (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · ko 빚 (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · de Verbindlichkeit (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · ru долг (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · et võlg (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · da gæld (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · eu zor (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · ky карыз (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · shn ၼီႈ (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · uz qarz (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · sh ду̑г (state or condition of owing something to another) · eo ŝuldo (state or condition of owing something to another) · ru обя́занность (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · gd fiach (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · ceb utang (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · rsk длуство (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · fy skuld (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · nb gjeld (state or condition of owing something to another) · my မြီ (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · es deuda (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · te అప్పు (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · ne कर्जा (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · da skyldighed (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · fy skuld (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · hi क़र्ज़ (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · ba бурыс (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · na idùra (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · es dita (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · tr borç (state or condition of owing something to another) · ms hutang (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · uk борг (state or condition of owing something to another) · tr borç (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · uk борг (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · fi velka (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · fo skuld (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · it debito (state or condition of owing something to another) · ota دین (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · fa-ira قَرْض (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · dsb dług (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · el χρέος (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · lv parāds (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · be доўг (state or condition of owing something to another) · pl zadłużenie (state or condition of owing something to another) · cmn 人情債 /人情债 (state or condition of owing something to another) · akl utang (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · hu tartozás (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · mwl díbeda (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · nup gbàtà (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · es jarana (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · sw deni (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · sq borxh (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · nl schulden (state or condition of owing something to another) · sh ду̑г (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · nl schuld (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · ug قەرز (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · tg қарз (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · cs dluh (state or condition of owing something to another) · cho aheka (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · cmn 欠款 (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · ar دَيْن (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · pl wdzięczność (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · la dēbitum (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · cu длъгъ (state or condition of owing something to another) · sv skuld (state or condition of owing something to another) · fa-ira بِدِهی (state or condition of owing something to another) · pt dívida (state or condition of owing something to another) · bg дълг (state or condition of owing something to another) · sk dlh (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · sh dȗg (state or condition of owing something to another) · bg задълже́ние (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · hy պարտք (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · kmr qer (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · fa-ira دِیْن (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · ja 借金 (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · be доўг (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · gl débeda (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · ca deute (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · cho aheka (state or condition of owing something to another) · mt dejn (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · mk борч (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · ru долг (state or condition of owing something to another) · sk dlh (state or condition of owing something to another) · rup hreu (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · tft nyagi (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · ota دین (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · fr dette (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · ba үтеш (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · rup borgi (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · pt dívida (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · bn কর্জ (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · hu kötelezettség (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · ga dette (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · id berutang (state or condition of owing something to another) · kk борыш (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · ba бурыс (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · mwl díbeda (state or condition of owing something to another) · fi velvoite (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · cmn 借款 (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · tg қарз (state or condition of owing something to another) · hsb dołh (state or condition of owing something to another) · it obbligo (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · sl dôlg (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · pl zobowiązanie (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · sa ऋण (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · pt dívida (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · jje 빗 (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · da gæld (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · inh декхар (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · fo skuld (state or condition of owing something to another) · it debito (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · uk зобов'я́зання (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · cs dluh (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · mg trosa (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · lez бурж (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · yo gbèsè (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · ro datorie (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · es deuda (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · ru задо́лженность (state or condition of owing something to another) · gl débeda (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · fi velka (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · es pufo (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · ar دَيْن (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · sl dolg (state or condition of owing something to another) · ja 負債 (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · ota دین (state or condition of owing something to another) · dlm debeta (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · mk долг (state or condition of owing something to another) · es adeudo (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · de Schuld (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · ka ვალი (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · fa-ira بِدِهی (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · sv skuld (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · kk қарыз (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · ur دَین (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · tl utang (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · alt алуча (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · is skuld (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · izh velka (state or condition of owing something to another) · rif amerwas (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · sl dôlg (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · grc χρέος (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · it buffo (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · uk обо́в'язок (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · rif amerwas (state or condition of owing something to another) · mt dejn (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · nb gjeld (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · id utang (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · id utang (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · cu длъгъ (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · km បំណុល (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · nb gjeld (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · gd comain (state or condition of owing something to another) · gd fiach (state or condition of owing something to another) · is skuld (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · mn зээл (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · de Verpflichtung (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · ka მოვალეობა (state or condition of owing something to another) · az borc (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · duo gahut (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · av борч (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · it debito (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · gl débeda (state or condition of owing something to another) · tk bergi (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · fo skuld (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · vi nợ (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · dsb dług (state or condition of owing something to another) · fr dette (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · bg дълг (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · ca deute (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · txb peri (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · zza vedeyn (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · tab бурж (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · cho aheka (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · fy skuld (state or condition of owing something to another) · ka თავანი (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · oc deute (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · pt débito (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · ka ვალი (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · uz nasiya (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · lv parāds (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · sh dȗg (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · ka მოვალეობა (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · ru долг (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · tg дайн (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · uz dayn (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · ro datorie (state or condition of owing something to another) · fi velka (state or condition of owing something to another) · de Schulden (state or condition of owing something to another) · lo ໜີ້ (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · tg бидеҳӣ (state or condition of owing something to another) · tg дайн (state or condition of owing something to another) · cmn 債務 /债务 (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · th หนี้ (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · mk долг (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · lt skola (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · ur قَرْض (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · ckb قەرز (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · sk dlh (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · arz دين (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · gd comain (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · hu adósság (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · ckb قەرز (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · de Verbindlichkeit (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · cs dluh (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · kmr deyn (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · av къарз (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · bn ঋণ (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · lt skola (state or condition of owing something to another) · tg бидеҳӣ (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · pl dług (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · ar قِرْض (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · mi moni tārewa (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · de Verbindlichkeit (state or condition of owing something to another) · hu tartozás (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · tft hagi (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · ba аласаҡ (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · mba utang (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · uz burch (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · ang scyld (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · ckb قەرزار (state or condition of owing something to another) · uk борг (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · it impegno (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · el χρέος (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · da gæld (state or condition of owing something to another) · hi ऋण (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · hu adósság (state or condition of owing something to another) · sw deni class ji/ma (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · alt ӧдӱш (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · eo ŝuldo (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · tt бурыч (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · es deuda (state or condition of owing something to another) · nl verplichting (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · es débito (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · pt débito (state or condition of owing something to another) · sv gäld (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · ps قرض (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · ar دَيْن (state or condition of owing something to another) · zza deyn (diq) (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · my ကြွေး (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · ko 차금 (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · ro datorie (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · el χρέος (state or condition of owing something to another) · kmr qer (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · pt débito (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · arn defe (action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another) · pl dług (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · ka ვალი (state or condition of owing something to another) · az borc (money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another) · it buffo (state or condition of owing something to another)