delinquency

noun

de·​lin·​quen·​cy di-ˈliŋ-kwən-sē How to pronounce delinquency (audio)
-ˈlin-
plural delinquencies
Synonyms of delinquencynext
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

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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
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.
Vu Thanh Nguyen was charged with one felony count of child endangerment and one misdemeanor count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026 His father, Vu Thanh Nguyen of Santa Ana, has been charged with one felony count of child endangerment and one misdemeanor count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor for buying his son the powerful electric motorcycle. — Julie Sharp, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026 Capital One's charge-offs benefited from steady improvement in delinquencies compared to the first half of the year and strong recoveries performance. — Jeff Marks, CNBC, 20 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 See All Example Sentences for delinquency

Word History

Etymology

delinqu(ent) entry 2 + -ency

First Known Use

1625, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of delinquency was in 1625

Phrases Containing delinquency

Browse Nearby Words

delinquence
delinquency
delinquent
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Delinquency.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/delinquency. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Medical Definition

delinquency

noun
de·​lin·​quen·​cy di-ˈliŋ-kwən-sē, -ˈlin- How to pronounce delinquency (audio)
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 How to pronounce delinquency (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on delinquency

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about delinquency

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