debt
Pluraldebts
- 1Money that you owe to another person or company, usually after borrowing it.
Like money you borrow from a friend and still have to give back.
He worked two jobs to pay off his debt.
After college, she had a student loan debt of twenty thousand dollars.
UsageYou pay off a debt. Use debt without a to talk about money owed in general.
Similarliability, loan, arrears
Note
- 2The situation of owing money or something else to another person.
Like the feeling of owing a friend a favor you have not done yet.
After borrowing from his brother, he was in debt to him for months.
She hated being in debt and paid everyone back as fast as she could.
UsageWe say in debt or get into debt. I'm in your debt means I am very grateful to you.
Similarindebtedness
Oppositecredit
- 3Something you have a duty to do for another person, feel toward them, or give them.
She owed a great debt to the teacher who believed in her.
We all share a debt to the people who came before us.
UsageWe say a debt to someone, and a debt of gratitude when you are very thankful.
Similarobligation, duty
Note
Less common meaning
- 4A court case seeking payment of a fixed amount of money that someone is claimed to owe.
Practice
Can you tell the meanings of debt apart? Answer 4 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.
Origin
It comes from Old French dete, from Latin debitum meaning 'what is owed,' from debeo 'I owe.' The silent 'b' was added later to match the Latin word.
Checked 6 Nov 2026 · 4 facts
- Debt comes from Old French dete. en.wiktionary.org
- Its Latin ancestor is debitum, meaning 'what is owed', derived from the verb meaning 'to owe'. en.wiktionary.org
- Debeo means 'I owe'. en.wiktionary.org
- The silent b was added later to reflect the Latin ancestor. en.wiktionary.org