Phrase guide

technical debt

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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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The implied cost of additional future work caused by choosing an easy but inferior solution originally.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences, software

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: design debt, code debt

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Coined by American computer programmer Ward Cunningham in 1992.

Across languages

Translations

5 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 技術債務 /技术债务 — implied cost of additional future work
  • Chinese Mandarin: 技術負債 /技术负债 — implied cost of additional future work
  • Chinese Mandarin: 技術債 /技术债 (jìshùzhài) — implied cost of additional future work
  • Japanese: 技術的負債 (Gijutsu-teki fusai) — implied cost of additional future work
  • Swedish: teknisk skuld — implied cost of additional future work