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
Income inequality has expanded in a short timeframe, and various economic indicators – including rising delinquency rates – are flashing a warning sign.
—
Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 18 Feb. 2026
Credit card payment delinquencies have been inching higher recently, after all, as has the total amount of credit card and household debt, and charge-offs are ticking up, too.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 13 Feb. 2026
The delinquencies are separate from $5 million in financing that Nano Banc provided to the owner of the property, whose addresses include 3380 Blackhawk Plaza Circle, county real estate files show.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026
Since defaults resumed, the data has shown an inexorable slide of millions of borrowers through delinquency — like a downward escalator — and ultimately into default.
—Cory Turner, NPR, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for delinquency
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Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 18 Feb. 2026
Credit card payment delinquencies have been inching higher recently, after all, as has the total amount of credit card and household debt, and charge-offs are ticking up, too.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 13 Feb. 2026
The delinquencies are separate from $5 million in financing that Nano Banc provided to the owner of the property, whose addresses include 3380 Blackhawk Plaza Circle, county real estate files show.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026
Since defaults resumed, the data has shown an inexorable slide of millions of borrowers through delinquency — like a downward escalator — and ultimately into default.
—Cory Turner, NPR, 10 Feb. 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 20 Feb. 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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