Words / B1

BOR-oh-ing/ˈbɒrəʊɪŋ/

Borrowing is the money borrowed, especially by a government (often uncountable): government borrowing. Debt is the total owed; a loan is one contract. OBR / budget: borrowing rose after the winter crisis.

Meaning

The money that a government or person borrows (often uncountable).

Examples

• “Government borrowing rose after the winter crisis.”
• “Household borrowing on credit cards is a different series from public borrowing.”

Good to know

Often uncountable. Close: debt (stock) vs borrowing (flow). Verb: borrow. Budget / Bank of England. Not “borrowings” in every headline — borrowing is common.

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