What kind of debt is incurred when an individual uses a credit card for purchases?

When an individual uses a credit card for purchases, the kind of debt incurred is classified as unsecured debt. This is because credit card debt is not backed by any physical asset or collateral. If someone fails to pay off their credit card balance, creditors do not have the right to claim specific assets, making it riskier for lenders compared to secured debt, which is tied to collateral like a home or car.

Additionally, unsecured debt typically comes with higher interest rates than secured debt to compensate for the increased risk assumed by lenders. While credit card debt can often be short-term due to the nature of payment cycles and revolving credit limits, the defining factor here is that the debt is unsecured. Long-term debt generally refers to obligations with repayment terms extending beyond a year, often seen in loans for larger purchases such as real estate or cars, which does not apply in the context of credit card use.