outstanding debt

USAGE SUMMARY

"outstanding debt" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to any amount of money that has not yet been paid, for example: The company needed to secure a new loan in order to pay off its existing outstanding debt.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Nicaragua has no outstanding debt with Canada.

The New York Times

Loehmann's outstanding debt will decline by $115 million.

The New York Times

It now owns a fifth of the government's outstanding debt.

The Economist

(The city currently has $40.8 billion in outstanding debt).

The New York Times

Cerberus holds the remaining third of Cordiant's outstanding debt.

The New York Times

By 2000, the agency's outstanding debt had reached $12 billion.

The New York Times

But all outstanding debt is backed by tax revenues.

The New York Times

The University has an additional $1.5 billion in outstanding debt.

Princeton University

Use your savings to pay off outstanding debt.

The Guardian - Money

The government plans to address the issue of outstanding debt.

The Guardian

None of the money would go toward lowering outstanding debt.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing financial statements or reports, use "outstanding debt" to clearly indicate the total amount of debt a company or individual still owes.

Common error

Avoid using "outstanding debt" when referring to equity in a company. "Outstanding shares" is the correct term for the number of shares a company has issued but not repurchased.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "outstanding debt" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the object of a verb or the subject of a clause. It identifies and quantifies the amount of debt that remains unpaid. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Formal & Business

18%

Academia

11%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Science

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "outstanding debt" is a commonly used and grammatically correct term that refers to the amount of debt that remains unpaid. Ludwig AI confirms its appropriateness across various contexts. It is prevalent in news, business, and academic settings, making it suitable for formal communication. When using the term, it is important to distinguish it from similar terms like "outstanding shares" and to use it appropriately in financial discussions. Alternatives like "unpaid balance" or "remaining debt" can be used depending on the specific context. Overall, "outstanding debt" is a reliable and versatile phrase for describing unsettled financial obligations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unpaid balance

Focuses on the amount still needing to be paid, emphasizing the remaining sum.

unsettled debt

Highlights the fact that the debt is not yet resolved or cleared.

due debt

Emphasizes the debt that is currently payable or has reached its payment date.

remaining debt

Stresses the portion of the original debt that is still left to be paid.

accrued liabilities

A more formal term often used in accounting to refer to accumulated financial obligations.

unliquidated debt

Indicates debt that has not been converted into cash or other liquid assets for payment.

uncleared debt

Similar to unsettled debt, highlighting the uncompleted process of debt resolution.

open account

Often refers to a line of credit or a debt that is still active and accruing charges.

deferred payment

Indicates that payment has been postponed to a later date, but the debt still exists.

arrears

Refers to the state of being behind on payments; past due obligations.

FAQs

How is "outstanding debt" typically used in a sentence?

The phrase "outstanding debt" is used to describe the amount of money that remains to be paid. For example: "The company is struggling to manage its "outstanding debt"."

What are some alternatives to using "outstanding debt"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "unpaid balance", "unsettled debt", or "remaining debt".

Is "outstanding debt" a formal or informal term?

"Outstanding debt" is considered a neutral to formal term, suitable for business, financial, and academic contexts. In more informal settings, simpler terms like "money owed" may be preferred.

What is the difference between "outstanding debt" and "total liabilities"?

"Outstanding debt" specifically refers to the amount of debt that has not yet been paid, while "total liabilities" encompasses all financial obligations of an entity, including "accounts payable", deferred revenue, and other obligations beyond just debt.