# debt

/ˈdɛt/ (US) · /dˈɛt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/debt
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. money owed

noun · CEFR B1

an amount of money that you owe to a person, bank, or company.

For teachers: a specific sum of money owed by one party to another, typically arising from a loan or credit agreement.

- It took him three years to pay off his student debt after graduating.
- The company struggled to service its mounting debt as interest rates rose and consumer demand began to soften.

### 2. the state of owing

noun · CEFR B1

the situation of owing money to others.

For teachers: the state or condition of owing money; often used in the phrase 'in debt'.

- The family was deeply in debt after the business failed.
- Living in debt creates a cycle of stress that can prevent individuals from making long-term financial investments.

Usage: Commonly follows the preposition 'in'.

### 3. moral obligation

noun · CEFR B2

a feeling that you should do something for someone because they were kind to you or helped you.

For teachers: a moral or social obligation to perform a service or show gratitude to another party.

- I owe her a debt of gratitude for helping me find this job.
- The nation owes a profound debt to the volunteers who risked their lives during the emergency rescue operations.

Usage: Often used in the phrase 'a debt of gratitude'.

### 4. legal action for money

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical · Formal

a legal process used to get back money that is owed.

For teachers: a formal legal action or proceeding brought to recover a specific sum of money.

- The firm decided to bring an action of debt against the supplier.
- The plaintiff initiated a debt proceeding to recover the unpaid balance of the construction contract plus statutory interest.

## Examples

- He is working hard to pay off his credit card debt.
- After the business failed, the owners were left with a significant debt that took years to repay.
- While the financial debt was eventually settled through a structured repayment plan, the moral debt he felt toward his mentor remained a lifelong burden.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.