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

Synonyms of delinquency

• negligence
• neglect
• default
• failure
• oversight

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

It's rated on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being a low chance for delinquency and 5 being a high chance of delinquency. — Jasmin Suknanan, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2026

Maintenance activity, vendor invoices, rent collections, delinquency and property-level financial reporting should all contribute to a clearer picture of performance. — David Crown, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026

Mary Cormier and David Butts, of Scott, were arrested and charged with second-degree cruelty to juveniles, child desertion, and contributing to the delinquency of juveniles, the Scott Police Department said in a statement. — Kc Baker, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026

But data show, in states where online gambling has been made legal, bankruptcies and credit card delinquencies go up 25%. — David Morgan, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

delinqu(ent) entry 2 + -ency

First Known Use

1625, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing delinquency

• juvenile delinquency

Medical 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