delinquency
/dɪˈlɪŋkw(ə)nsi
/noun (plural delinquencies) [mass noun]
1Minor crime, especially that committed by young people: social causes of crime and delinquency...
- Gender is no barrier to delinquency and crime committed by youth.
- Crime and delinquency among our young people would have been at a minimum today if heads of all religious faiths and homes had the respect and admiration of those under their charge.
- Media reports on youth crime and delinquency regularly paint a picture of undisciplined and dangerous young people with negative attitudes towards authority.
Synonyms
crime, wrongdoing, criminality, lawbreaking, lawlessness, misconduct, misbehaviour;
misdemeanours, offences, misdeeds
2 formal Neglect of one’s duty: he relayed this in such a manner as to imply grave delinquency on the host’s part...
- The folks at are charged with contributing to the delinquency of the film-makers, who were likely duped into believing this could become a satisfying monster movie.
Synonyms
negligence, dereliction of duty, remissness, neglectfulness, irresponsibility
2.1 [count noun] chiefly US A failure to pay an outstanding debt by the due date.However, an increase in total consumer debt increases revolving delinquencies....
- That could lead to more mortgage delinquencies or defaults.
- This theorem accounts for both the unexplainable growth in outstandings and the lack of delinquencies!
Origin
Mid 17th century: from ecclesiastical Latin delinquentia, from Latin delinquent- 'offending' (see delinquent).