delinquency

noun

de·​lin·​quen·​cy di-ˈliŋ-kwən-sē How to pronounce delinquency (audio)
-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 Still, this is less than half of the Golden State’s 0.8 percent tardy mortgages at year-end 2019 as well as better than elsewhere in the U.S. Nationally, there was a 0.57 percent delinquency rate, up 0.14 percentage points in a year. Jonathan Lansner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2024 The return of student loan payments has also been a burden, with the Fed noting rising credit card delinquency rates are being driven disproportionately by those with education debt. Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 1 Mar. 2024 The trend for auto loan delinquencies is being carefully watched by lenders and others. Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 29 Feb. 2024 Keith Sanders, 24, is charged with first-degree murder and contributing to the delinquency or criminal delinquency of a minor. Lauren Liebhaber, Kansas City Star, 14 Feb. 2024 Two East Bay office buildings have flopped into separate loan defaults and face foreclosure and seizure due to the delinquencies, fresh evidence of weakness in the commercial property sector. George Avalos, The Mercury News, 12 Feb. 2024 Henley pleaded no contest in 1981 to a misdemeanor charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Jennifer Peltz, USA TODAY, 28 Feb. 2024 He was sentenced to probation and a $2,500 fine after pleading no contest to a misdemeanor charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. CBS News, 28 Feb. 2024 Both were eventually arrested for drugs, and Henley pled guilty to contributing to the delinquency of a minor and served two years’ probation. David Browne, Rolling Stone, 28 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'delinquency.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1625, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of delinquency was in 1625

Dictionary Entries Near delinquency

Cite this Entry

“Delinquency.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/delinquency. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

delinquency

noun
de·​lin·​quen·​cy di-ˈliŋ-kwən-sē, -ˈlin- How to pronounce delinquency (audio)
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 How to pronounce delinquency (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on delinquency

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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