The debt market comprises the channels through which governments, companies and other borrowers obtain financing by offering claims that require future payments. Investors can hold these claims for income, transfer them to other parties, or use them to manage risk and liquidity. The claims may range from conventional bonds and loans to interests in pools of receivables; their payment rights and final repayment date are determined by the relevant contractual terms.
Source: European Central Bank (ECB) (source). This glossary entry is an independently worded adaptation of the cited information.