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

The bank's charge-off ratio fell from the second quarter and year-ago period, while early-stage delinquencies are at historically low levels. — Jeff Marks, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026

Student loan delinquencies have also jumped in the past year, with the rise tied to the end of pandemic-era protections and a Biden administration repayment plan. — Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 12 Oct. 2026

The beginning of the novel catalogs his traumas, searching for an all-encompassing origin story that might explain his delinquency. — Via Scribner, Literary Hub, 6 Oct. 2026

And a Federal Reserve Bank of New York study found that credit card delinquencies among sports bettors under 40 jumped 26% after legalization. — Shae Lake, Fortune, 5 Oct. 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