debt
[ det ]
/ dɛt /
noun
something that is owed or that one is bound to pay to or perform for another: a debt of $50.
a liability or obligation to pay or render something: My debt to her for advice is not to be discharged easily.
the condition of being under such an obligation: His gambling losses put him deeply in debt.
Theology.
an offense requiring reparation; a sin; a trespass.
Origin of debt
1175–1225; Middle English
dette < Old French < Latin
dēbita (neuter plural, taken in VL as feminine singular), noun use of
dēbitus, past participle of
dēbēre to owe, contraction of
*dēhabēre, equivalent to
dē-
de- +
habēre to have, possess
OTHER WORDS FROM debt
debt·less, adjective su·per·debt, nounWords nearby debt
Example sentences from the Web for debt
British Dictionary definitions for debt
debt
/ (dɛt) /
noun
something that is owed, such as money, goods, or services
bad debt
a debt that has little or no prospect of being paid
an obligation to pay or perform something; liability
the state of owing something, esp money, or of being under an obligation (esp in the phrases in debt, in (someone's) debt)
a temporary failure to maintain the necessary supply of something
sleep debt; oxygen debt
Derived forms of debt
debtless, adjectiveWord Origin for debt
C13: from Old French
dette, from Latin
dēbitum, from
dēbēre to owe, from
de- +
habēre to have; English spelling influenced by the Latin etymon
Medical definitions for debt
debt
[ dĕt ]
n.
Something that is deficient or required to restore a normal state.
Cultural definitions for debt
debt
Money, goods, or services owed by an individual, firm, or government to another individual, firm, or government.
Idioms and Phrases with debt
debt
see head over heels (in debt).