Delinquency dictionary definition | delinquency defined

delinquency

[di liŋ′kwən sē]

Use delinquency in a sentence

adjective

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.

noun

Delinquency is defined as failing to follow the law, or an overdue debt.
1. An example of a delinquency is stealing from a store.
2. An example of a delinquency is not paying your credit card bill on time.

delinquency

noun

pl. delinquencies

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, loan

delinquency

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

Noun

(plural delinquencies)

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.

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Sentence Examples

On the 17th of January he was named on the commission for law reform, of which Hale was the chief; and on the 17th of March 1653, he was pardoned of all delinquency and thus at last made capable of sitting in parliament.
Sir John Danvers carried to the Lords for their Concurrence, the Ordinance for pardoning the Delinquency of Mr. Coke.
Cloward and Ohlin (1961) regard truancy as part of a wider delinquency caused by " blocked opportunity " within school.
The report claims that an attachment to teachers at age 13 was related to lower levels of misbehavior and delinquency at age 15.
The practical application of these theories in professional intervention, from youthful delinquency to entrenched criminal careers, will be examined.

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I am deliberately rejecting our present easy distinction between sickness and health, at least as far as surface symptoms are concerned. Does sickness mean having symptoms? I maintain now that sickness might consist of not having symptoms when you should. Does health mean being symptom-free? I deny it. Which of the Nazis at Auschwitz or Dachau were healthy? Those with a stricken conscience or those with a nice, clear, happy conscience? Was it possible for a profoundly human person not to feel conflict, suffering, depression, rage, etc.?In a word if you tell me you have a personality problem, I am not certain until I know you better whether to say "Good" or "I'm sorry". It depends on the reasons. And these, it seems, may be bad reasons, or they may be good reasons.An example is the changing attitude of psychologists toward popularity, toward adjustment, even toward delinquency. Popular with whom? Perhaps it is better for a youngster to be unpopular with the neighboring snobs or with the local country club set. Adjusted to what? To a bad culture? To a dominating parent? What shall we think of a well-adjusted slave? A well-adjusted prisoner? Even the behavior problem boy is being looked upon with new tolerance. Why is he delinquent? Most often it is for sick reasons. But occasionally it is for good reasons and the boy is simply resisting exploitation, domination, neglect, contempt, and trampling upon. Clearly what will be called personality problems depends on who is doing the calling. The slave owner? The dictator? The patriarchal father? The husband who wants his wife to remain a child? It seems quite clear that personality problems may sometimes be loud protests against the crushing of one's psychological bones, of one's true inner nature. Abraham Maslow