noun
delinquency
dih-LIHNGK-wuhn-see
Delinquency (noun) means Minor criminal behavior, especially among young people. Example: “The youth center was set up to help reduce juvenile delinquency.”
noun
1
Minor criminal behavior, especially among young people.
"The youth center was set up to help reduce juvenile delinquency."
2
The state of being overdue on a debt or payment.
"The bank flagged his account for loan delinquency after three missed payments."
How to use delinquency
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither minor lawbreaking (especially by young people) or being behind on a payment.
Common pairings
juvenile delinquency
loan delinquency
rate of delinquency
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Word forms
- Plural
- delinquencies
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The youth center was set up to help reduce juvenile _____.
Etymology
Delinquency was borrowed from Late Latin dēlinquentia, derived from Latin dēlinquēns, the present participle of dēlinquō (“to transgress, err”); by surface analysis it is also delinquent + -cy.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for delinquency
agency
latency
urgency
potency
decency
regency
currency
tendency
clemency
leniency
frequency
emergency
See all rhymes for delinquency →
Frequently asked questions
What does “delinquency” mean?
The word “delinquency” means minor criminal behavior, especially among young people. In plain terms, either minor lawbreaking (especially by young people) or being behind on a payment.
How do you pronounce “delinquency”?
“Delinquency” is pronounced dih-LIHNGK-wuhn-see (/dɪˈlɪŋkwənsi/ in IPA).
How do you use “delinquency” in a sentence?
Here is “delinquency” used in a sentence: “The youth center was set up to help reduce juvenile delinquency.”
What part of speech is “delinquency”?
“Delinquency” is a noun.
How many meanings does “delinquency” have?
“Delinquency” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: minor criminal behavior, especially among young people.
