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
The prolonged payment delinquencies generally hurt your credit score.
—
Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 6 May 2026
And recently Robert Smedley, the city council minority leader and close Stewart political ally, paid off thousands of dollars in overdue sewer and water bills after the council found the delinquencies.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026
Mejer was initially charged with child endangerment, accessory after the fact to a crime, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, loaning a motor vehicle to an unlicensed driver and providing false information to a peace officer.
—Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 2 May 2026
Mejer has also been charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor and providing false information to a peace officer, both misdemeanors, and an infraction for permitting an unlicensed minor under the age of 18 to drive a motor vehicle.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for delinquency
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Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 6 May 2026
And recently Robert Smedley, the city council minority leader and close Stewart political ally, paid off thousands of dollars in overdue sewer and water bills after the council found the delinquencies.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026
Mejer was initially charged with child endangerment, accessory after the fact to a crime, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, loaning a motor vehicle to an unlicensed driver and providing false information to a peace officer.
—Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 2 May 2026
Mejer has also been charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor and providing false information to a peace officer, both misdemeanors, and an infraction for permitting an unlicensed minor under the age of 18 to drive a motor vehicle.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for delinquency
Cite this Entry
“Delinquency.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/delinquency. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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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