deficit spending

noun

: the spending of public funds raised by borrowing rather than by taxation

Examples of deficit spending in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Nonetheless, deficit spending has persisted to a significant degree under recent Republican and Democratic presidents. Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Apr. 2025 That deficit spending is driving world war levels of debt and will bankrupt the country. CBS News, 30 Mar. 2025 First, massive and permanent deficit spending could be used to continue paying out Social Security and Medicare benefits. Andrew Leahey, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025 But House Freedom Caucus Republicans think this version of the bill wouldn't go far enough to support Trump's agenda, and have asked for deficit spending to be limited at $5.5 trillion, which would then be offset by spending cuts. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for deficit spending

Word History

First Known Use

1938, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of deficit spending was in 1938

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Cite this Entry

“Deficit spending.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deficit%20spending. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

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