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Definition of debt

debt

/dɛt/
debt
Plural:debts
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debt Lexical Profile

debt Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A sum of money that is owed or due to be paid to another party.

Example

"They worked diligently for five years to pay off their mortgage debt."

2

The state or condition of owing money to someone or an institution.

Example

"Rising tuition costs have left many recent graduates deeply in debt."

3

A feeling of gratitude or moral obligation in return for a service, favor, or kindness.

Example

"The community owes a profound debt of gratitude to the volunteers who rebuilt the library."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for debt

• Nearby Words

debriefer
debriefing
debris
debt
debtless
debtor
debug

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from Old French 'dete', from Latin 'debitum' ('that which is owed'), the neuter past participle of 'debere' ('to owe'). The silent 'b' was reintroduced by 16th-century scholars to reflect its Latin root, though it was never pronounced in English.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Debt. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/debt
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