Word
indebtedness
Phoneticsin·debt·ed·ness, stress on the second syllable
US/ˌɪnˈdɛtɪdnɪs/
UK/ˌɪndˈɛtɪdnəs/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. the state of owing money to someone or something. It is often used to talk about a country or a person's total debt.
n. the state of being in debt; the total amount of money owed. Often used in financial or economic contexts to describe the aggregate liabilities of an entity.
Examples
“The country's level of indebtedness is very high.”
“Economists warned that the rapid increase in public indebtedness could lead to a financial crisis if not managed carefully.”
“While the initial investment promised high returns, the resulting increase in corporate indebtedness eventually made the firm vulnerable to even minor shifts in interest rates.”
Examples
simple
“The country's level of indebtedness is very high.”
contextual
“Economists warned that the rapid increase in public indebtedness could lead to a financial crisis if not managed carefully.”
complex
“While the initial investment promised high returns, the resulting increase in corporate indebtedness eventually made the firm vulnerable to even minor shifts in interest rates.”
Real-World Examples
“The report also sounds a warning about what it calls the “rising challenge” of government indebtedness in developing countries, which makes it harder for politicians to cushion the public from shocks.” “Poverty and indebtedness are the most important factors that lead to migration.” Etymology
From indebted + -ness.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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