- The definition of delinquency is relating to not following the law.
An example of delinquency used as an adjective is in the phrase "delinquency problems," which means problems with not following the law.
- Delinquency is defined as failing to follow the law, or an overdue debt.
- An example of a delinquency is stealing from a store.
- An example of a delinquency is not paying your credit card bill on time.
delinquency
pl. -·cies
- failure or neglect to do what duty or law requires
- ⌂ an overdue debt, tax, etc.
- a fault: misdeed
- ⌂ behavior, esp. by the young, that is antisocial or in violation of the law
Origin of delinquency
Late Latin delinquentia ; from Classical Latin delinquens, present participle of delinquere, to leave undone, commit a fault ; from de-, from + linquere, to leave ; from Indo-European base an unverified form leikw-, to leave from source Classical Greek leipein, to leave, Old English læn, loandelinquency
noun
pl. de·lin·quen·cies- Juvenile delinquency.
- Failure to do what law or duty requires.
- An offense or misdemeanor; a misdeed.
- A debt or other financial obligation on which payment is overdue.
adjective
Of or relating to juvenile delinquency: delinquency problems.
delinquency
Origin
Latin dēlinquentia, from dēlinquēns.
delinquency - Legal Definition
n
- A failure, by act or omission, to perform a legal or contractual obligation.
- an unpaid amount due.
