| Noun | 1. | certificate of indebtedness - a written promise to repay a debt cash equivalent - a highly liquid debt instrument with maturities of less than three months certificate of deposit, CD - a debt instrument issued by a bank; usually pays interest note of hand, promissory note, note - a promise to pay a specified amount on demand or at a certain time; "I had to co-sign his note at the bank" document - a written account of ownership or obligation floater - a debt instrument with a variable interest rate tied to some other interest rate (e.g. the rate paid by T-bills) bond certificate, bond - a certificate of debt (usually interest-bearing or discounted) that is issued by a government or corporation in order to raise money; the issuer is required to pay a fixed sum annually until maturity and then a fixed sum to repay the principal |