B1nounmoney
US/det/
UK/det/
money that you owe to a person, bank or company
In context
It took them five years to pay off the debt on their apartment.
Many young people fall into debt because buying online is so easy.
The country's national debt has risen sharply since the crisis began.
Words that go with debt
verb + noun
- pay off a debtHe worked two jobs to pay off a debt to his uncle.
- get into debtStudents often get into debt during their first year away from home.
noun + preposition
- in debtThe family has been in debt since the restaurant closed.
adjective + noun
- national debtEconomists are worried about the size of the national debt.
- bad debtThe bank had to write off millions in bad debt last year.
noun + noun
- credit card debtCredit card debt grows fast because the interest rates are so high.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:
I have many debts with the bank.Correct: I owe the bank a lot of money. / I have a lot of debt.