Definition of delinquencynext
1
as in negligence
the nonperformance of an assigned or expected action we received a notice in the mail informing us of our delinquency in paying our utility bill

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2
as in lateness
the quality or state of being late delinquency of our mortgage payment meant that we would have to pay a surcharge

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of delinquency Officials with the Ponce City Market developer said their delinquency was a mix-up, and the nearly $200,000 balance has since been paid. — Shaddi Abusaid, AJC.com, 18 Sep. 2026 Ruiz, who lives in Catawba, has been charged with two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, aiding and abetting underage possession of alcohol, and underage possession of alcohol, officials said. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 15 Sep. 2026 About 12% of Oklahoma student loans remained in delinquency in the first quarter of 2026, according to a WalletHub analysis of TransUnion data. — Raynee Howell, Oklahoma Watch, 12 Sep. 2026 Milei has offered little sympathy for struggling Argentines, blaming the surge in delinquencies on irresponsible spending. — Débora Rey, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for delinquency
Recent Examples of Synonyms for delinquency
Noun
  • The suit accuses Publix of wrongful death, alleging breach of warranty and negligence.
    — Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2026
  • His widow, Yaraisi Santiso Morejon, who also represents Rodriguez’s estate in the lawsuit, alleges that negligence contributed to her husband’s death and that the incident was avoidable.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Given our lateness, only a few things would be deemed worthy enough to delay getting to the census site.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
  • On July 6, reports stated that Harry was offered and had accepted an invite to stay at Buckingham Palace—but the invite was reportedly rescinded due to the lateness of his RSVP.
    — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 20 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Long-term national data has shown that states that have previously expanded access to SNAP benefits had reduced numbers of CPS investigations and substantiated reports of abuse and neglect, as well as fewer foster care placements.
    — Sandy Santana, STAT, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Johnny JeanBaptiste, 36, and Stacia McMillian, 32, were charged with one count of child neglect without great bodily harm after deputies responded to the report of the wandering toddler, officials said.
    — Felix Rodriguez, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Berkowitz also shared that Taylor’s greatest flaw was her notorious tardiness.
    — Rance Collins, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Sep. 2026
  • The star’s tardiness usually resulted from her elaborate glam process.
    — Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Appliance garages and lifts move from premium feature to default.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026
  • There are fathers who do it, but much of the time, the default still lands on the mother.
    — Simbiat Adighije, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Repeating that process places significant stress on components, increasing operational and capital costs due to the risk of failure, maintenance requirements and downtime.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2026
  • The driver, identified as 54-year-old Robert Delorenzo of Stratford, was arrested and charged with reckless driving, operating an unregistered motor vehicle and failure to stop on the right side of the road.
    — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Content oversight provided by Studio 1847 Family estrangement can leave parents wondering what to do when communication breaks down, and reconciliation feels impossible.
    — Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The states noted that the decree sets up two layers of oversight.
    — Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Delinquency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/delinquency. Accessed 3 Oct. 2026.

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