Every month I pay off my credit cards in full. If I want to get a mortgage, anything I currently owe on the card is viewed as debt, even though it will be paid in full according to my history of always paying in full.
Monthly expenses are a debt in my opinion. At any given time you owe a balance for utilities or cell phone unless you pay off what you owe and stop that expense altogether.
At the same time I say I live debt free when I have no mortgage and no monthly car payment even though I have other expenses.
So, I think context matters.