national debt
noun
: the total amount of money that the government of a country owes to companies, countries, etc.
Examples of national debt in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The billions spent on political advertising could go toward paying off our national debt.
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Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 6 Feb. 2026
That will be a burden on the businesses and families, and an even larger budgetary burden for the Federal government already paying $1 trillion in interest in the national debt, more than defense and any single healthcare program.
—Daniel J. Arbess, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2026
Her priorities include providing more support for small businesses; cutting taxes; increasing science, technology, and workforce training; expanding agricultural exports; protecting privacy; and decreasing the national debt.
—Todd Feurer, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2026
Meanwhile, the wealthiest Americans enjoy Trump’s tax cuts, which are creating massive deficits as our national debt skyrockets.
—Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for national debt
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Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 6 Feb. 2026
That will be a burden on the businesses and families, and an even larger budgetary burden for the Federal government already paying $1 trillion in interest in the national debt, more than defense and any single healthcare program.
—Daniel J. Arbess, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2026
Her priorities include providing more support for small businesses; cutting taxes; increasing science, technology, and workforce training; expanding agricultural exports; protecting privacy; and decreasing the national debt.
—Todd Feurer, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2026
Meanwhile, the wealthiest Americans enjoy Trump’s tax cuts, which are creating massive deficits as our national debt skyrockets.
—Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for national debt
Cite this Entry
“National debt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/national%20debt. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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