debt definition - Dictionary

Dictionary

debt [ det ] (plural debts)

noun

Definition:

1. something owed: an amount of money, a service, or an item of property that is owed to somebody

2. state of owing something: the condition of owing something to somebody

3. obligation: an obligation or borrowing

Her poetry shows a great debt to the works of Lorca.

4. sin: a sin or trespass ( archaic )

[13th century. Via French dette< Latin debitum< past participle of debere "owe"]

debt·less adjective

debt·or [ déttər ] noun

Word History


	The Latin word debere "to owe," from which debt is derived, is also the source of English debenture, debit, due, duty, and endeavor.