delinquency
noun
de·lin·quen·cy
di-ˈliŋ-kwən-sē 
-ˈlin-
plural delinquencies
1
a
: a delinquent act
b
: conduct that is out of accord with accepted behavior or the law
especially
: juvenile delinquency
2
: a debt on which payment is overdue
Examples of delinquency in a Sentence
They tried to steer him away from delinquency by giving him a job in their store.
She's been charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
a series of minor delinquencies
a high rate of delinquency
Recent Examples on the Web
This fed into local fears that video games were the newest attraction to lure youths into a dangerous environment away from family and friends, thereby leading vulnerable members of society into crime and delinquency.
—
Time, 8 Oct. 2025
According to data from Intercontinental Exchange, serious delinquencies—which refer to loans that are over 90 days past due—were up 30,000 in July from a year earlier.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Novak served as a deputy federal public defender for six years and also worked as a referee for the Los Angeles Superior Court, with a focus on juvenile dependency and delinquency proceedings.
—Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
Emerson Depaz-Pangan, 26, is charged with facilitation of criminal homicide and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
—Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for delinquency
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Time, 8 Oct. 2025
According to data from Intercontinental Exchange, serious delinquencies—which refer to loans that are over 90 days past due—were up 30,000 in July from a year earlier.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Novak served as a deputy federal public defender for six years and also worked as a referee for the Los Angeles Superior Court, with a focus on juvenile dependency and delinquency proceedings.
—Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
Emerson Depaz-Pangan, 26, is charged with facilitation of criminal homicide and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
—Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for delinquency
Cite this Entry
“Delinquency.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/delinquency. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
delinquency
noun
de·lin·quen·cy
di-ˈliŋ-kwən-sē, -ˈlin-
plural delinquencies
: conduct that is out of accord with accepted behavior or the law
especially
: juvenile delinquency
Legal Definition
delinquency
noun
de·lin·quen·cy
di-ˈliŋ-kwən-sē
plural delinquencies
1
a
: the quality or state of being delinquent
b
: juvenile delinquency
contributing to the delinquency of a minor
2
: a debt on which payment is overdue
consumer loan delinquencies
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