noun
debt
DET/det/
An obligation to repay something owed.
The borrower takes on a debt by accepting coins that must be returned.
Etymology
The ancestor means “a thing owed,” not just borrowed money. That broader idea survives in debt as an obligation to pay or provide something to another person.
In context
many people living flashy lifestyles are secretly drowning in debt. Huge car payments, credit card debt, luxury purchases financed with loans
More examples
- Medical bills leave many families in debt.
- The company still owes several large debts.
- I owe you a debt of gratitude for your help.
Forms
debt · debts
debtor noun — A person or organization that owes money.
Similar words
- obligation
- Broader than debt; includes duties unrelated to repayment.
- liability
- Emphasizes financial or legal responsibility, especially in accounting.