Phrase guide

debt trap

noun · 1 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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1

noun

Meaning 1

A situation in which a borrower's debt obligations exceed their repayment capabilities, compelling to them to incur new debt to repay existing ones.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: abstract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From debt + trap.

Across languages

Translations

3 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • German: Schuldenfalle — a situation in which a borrower's debt obligations exceed their repayment capabilities
  • Swedish: skuldfälla — a situation in which a borrower's debt obligations exceed their repayment capabilities
  • Vietnamese: bẫy nợ — a situation in which a borrower's debt obligations exceed their repayment capabilities