Phrase guide

debt ceiling

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The limit up to which an entity (usually a government) is legally allowed to borrow.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: economics, government, politics, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

the maximum borrowing power of a governmental entity

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: debt limit

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: debt

Narrower terms: national debt ceiling

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 債務上限 /债务上限 (zhàiwù shàngxiàn) — limit
  • Chinese Mandarin: 债务上限 (zhàiwù shàngxiàn) — limit
  • Finnish: velkakatto — limit
  • French: plafond de dette — limit
  • German: Schuldengrenze — limit
  • German: Schuldenobergrenze — limit
  • Hungarian: adósságplafon — limit