debt ceiling

• Limite légale du montant total d'argent que le gouvernement est autorisé à emprunter pour honorer ses obligations juridiques existantes, comme la sécurité sociale et les salaires des militaires.

A legal limit on the total amount of money that a government is authorized to borrow to meet its existing legal obligations, such as social security and military salaries.

1. Government borrowing limitC1formalamerican

   The maximum amount of money that a government is legally allowed to borrow to pay its existing obligations.

   plafond de la dette

   • The Congress voted to raise the debt ceiling to avoid a default.
   • Failure to increase the debt ceiling could lead to a government shutdown.
   • Economists debate the long-term effects of raising the debt ceiling.