debt

debt   (dět)    n.   Something owed, such as money, goods, or services. An obligation or liability to pay or render something to someone else. The condition of owing: a young family always in debt. An offense requiring forgiveness or reparation; a trespass. [Middle English dette, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin *dēbita, pl. of Latin dēbitum, debt, neuter past participle of dēbēre, to owe; see ghabh- in Indo-European roots.] debt'less adj.

debt

Money, goods, or services owed by an individual, firm, or government to another individual, firm, or government.

debt 

Debt

An amount of money borrowed and owed by one party to another.

Investopedia Commentary

Bonds, loans and commercial paper are all examples of debt.

Related Links

Debt Reckoning
What Is A Corporate Credit Rating?
When Companies Borrow Money
Uncovering Hidden Debt

See also: Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Debt Equity Ratio, Debt Security, Long Term Debt, Net Debt, Non-Recourse Debt

debt

See liability.

Main Entry: debt
Function: noun
Etymology: Old French dette, ultimately from Latin debita, plural of debitum debt, from neuter of debitus, past participle of debere to owe
1 : something owed: as a : a specific sum of money or a performance due another esp. by agreement (as a loan agreement) debts…of the United States —U.S. Constitution article I> debt for alimony> b : an obligation to pay or perform on another's claim debt> —compare ASSET, EQUITY 4
NOTE: It is often up to the courts to decide what is or is not a debt under various laws. Courts disagree whether criminal restitution is a debt under the Bankruptcy Code. The historical practice of imprisoning debtors for nonpayment is no longer used.

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antecedent debt
: debt that is incurred prior to a property transfer paying or securing the debt —compare PREFERENCE

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bad debt
: a debt that cannot be collected
NOTE: An income tax deduction is allowed for bad debts.

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consumer debt
: debt that is incurred by an individual primarily for the purchase of consumer goods or services —compare CONSUMER CREDIT

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judgment debt
: a debt established by a judgment and enforceable by a legal process (as an execution of judgment or attachment) c : a state of owing debt> d : the aggregate of money owed debt>
2 : the common-law action for the recovery of a specified sum of money or a sum that can be simply and certainly determined called also action of debt writ of debt —compare ASSUMPSIT, COVENANT

debt (dět)
n.
Something that is deficient or required to restore a normal state.

Debt

The Mosaic law encouraged the practice of lending (Deut. 15:7; Ps. 37:26; Matt. 5:42); but it forbade the exaction of interest except from foreigners. Usury was strongly condemned (Prov. 28:8; Ezek. 18:8, 13, 17; 22:12; Ps. 15:5). On the Sabbatical year all pecuniary obligations were cancelled (Deut. 15:1-11). These regulations prevented the accumulation of debt.

debt

see head over heels (in debt).