Phrase guide

debt trap diplomacy

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 nation's use of predatory loans in order to gain leverage in relations with the recipient country or to seize assets within the indebted country.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From debt trap + diplomacy.

Across languages

Translations

3 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • German: Schuldenfallen-Diplomatie — a nation's use of predatory loans
  • Spanish: diplomacia de trampa endeudante — a nation's use of predatory loans
  • Vietnamese: ngoại giao bẫy nợ — a nation's use of predatory loans