Plain meaning
A high credit rating assigned by a rating agency to indicate very strong capacity to meet financial obligations.
Also called
triple-A rating
triple A rating
AAA
Key points
- Credit ratings are opinions from rating agencies, not guarantees.
- Government bond articles may cite ratings to explain investor confidence and borrowing conditions.
- Ratings can affect perceived credit risk and borrowing costs.
- Different agencies may use different rating scales and outlooks.
Why it comes up
AAA references appear in public-debt and bond articles when explaining federal borrowing and investor demand.