In the U.S. how is the deficit different than the national debt?

The deficit refers to the annual shortfall when the government's expenditures exceed its revenues within a fiscal year. In contrast, the national debt is the cumulative total of all past deficits, representing the total amount the government owes to creditors. While the deficit can fluctuate yearly, the national debt grows over time as deficits accumulate. Essentially, the deficit is a yearly measure, while the national debt is a long-term accumulation of those deficits.