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
The film follows the relationship between a strong-willed older sister and a younger brother who, starved of affection amid a difficult family dynamic, slides toward delinquency.
—
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 13 May 2026
Mejer also faces misdemeanor counts of contributing to delinquency and providing false information to a peace officer, and an infraction for permitting an unlicensed minor to drive a motor vehicle.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 13 May 2026
Credit card and auto loan delinquencies have remained stubbornly elevated relative to the past decade — a reminder that lower-income and subprime borrowers are feeling the squeeze of sustained high rates in ways that aggregate data can obscure.
—Mayra Rodriguez Valladares, Forbes.com, 9 May 2026
And recently Robert Smedley, the city council minority leader and close Stewart political ally, paid off thousands of dollars in overdue sewer and water bills after the council found the delinquencies.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for delinquency
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Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 13 May 2026
Mejer also faces misdemeanor counts of contributing to delinquency and providing false information to a peace officer, and an infraction for permitting an unlicensed minor to drive a motor vehicle.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 13 May 2026
Credit card and auto loan delinquencies have remained stubbornly elevated relative to the past decade — a reminder that lower-income and subprime borrowers are feeling the squeeze of sustained high rates in ways that aggregate data can obscure.
—Mayra Rodriguez Valladares, Forbes.com, 9 May 2026
And recently Robert Smedley, the city council minority leader and close Stewart political ally, paid off thousands of dollars in overdue sewer and water bills after the council found the delinquencies.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 3 May 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 21 May. 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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