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
As a consequence, the national debt is on track to surpass a once unthinkable $40 trillion later this year.
—
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Reagan oversaw a 186% increase in the national debt– the biggest percentage increase in over 70 years.
—Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 5 Apr. 2026
The national debt is skyrocketing.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2026
Net interest payments on the national debt are now projected to exceed $1 trillion in fiscal year 2026—nearly triple the $345 billion the government paid in 2020.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for national debt
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The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Reagan oversaw a 186% increase in the national debt– the biggest percentage increase in over 70 years.
—Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 5 Apr. 2026
The national debt is skyrocketing.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2026
Net interest payments on the national debt are now projected to exceed $1 trillion in fiscal year 2026—nearly triple the $345 billion the government paid in 2020.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 Apr. 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 7 Apr. 2026.
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