juvenile delinquency

noun

1

: conduct by a juvenile characterized by antisocial behavior that is beyond parental control and therefore subject to legal action

2

: a violation of the law committed by a juvenile and not punishable by death or life imprisonment

juvenile delinquent noun

Examples of juvenile delinquency in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In it, Wertham railed against comics as a cause of juvenile delinquency, dyslexia, and other childhood behavioral problems that kept anxious parents up at night. —Vasilis K. Pozios, HollywoodReporter, 18 July 2025

Among her new charges are two counts of dissemination of matter harmful to minors and contributing to juvenile delinquency, according to multiple reports. —Mike Stunson, Kansas City Star, 19 Mar. 2025

Participants in the Tarrant County program are referred by probation officers or district court judges who handle child welfare and juvenile delinquency cases. —Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 July 2024

Second, the overall processing of juvenile delinquency cases (i.e. review of allegations, filing of petitions, detention policies, waiver, adjudication, disposition, and placement) often lack consistency and should be reviewed for improvement. —Alexander Williams Jr., Baltimore Sun, 27 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1816, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

juvenile delinquency

noun

: violation of the law (as stealing) or antisocial behavior (as playing hooky from school) by a young person

Medical Definition

juvenile delinquency

noun

1

: conduct by a juvenile characterized by antisocial behavior that is subject to legal action

2

: a violation of the law committed by a juvenile that would have been a crime if committed by an adult

Legal Definition

juvenile delinquency

noun

: a violation of the law committed by a juvenile that would have been a crime if committed by an adult

also : antisocial behavior by juveniles that is subject to legal action