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
And the evidence is there - excess savings from the Covid era are nearly gone, credit card delinquencies are at a 12-year high, and businesses are issuing cautious forecasts citing demand fragility.
—
Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
As protections implemented during the pandemic era expire, borrowers who fall behind on payments could soon see their delinquencies reflected on credit reports — a shift that may carry long-term financial consequences.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025
In California, before 2020, the delinquency and default rates were very low, according to a 2023 study by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California.
—David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 22 Apr. 2025
This year, scores fell even further as severe delinquencies, or 90-day past-due missed payments, surpassed pre-pandemic levels for the first time.
—Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for delinquency
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Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
As protections implemented during the pandemic era expire, borrowers who fall behind on payments could soon see their delinquencies reflected on credit reports — a shift that may carry long-term financial consequences.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025
In California, before 2020, the delinquency and default rates were very low, according to a 2023 study by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California.
—David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 22 Apr. 2025
This year, scores fell even further as severe delinquencies, or 90-day past-due missed payments, surpassed pre-pandemic levels for the first time.
—Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for delinquency
Cite this Entry
“Delinquency.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/delinquency. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
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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