juvenile delinquency

noun

1. behavior of a child or youth that is so marked by violation of law, persistent mischievousness, antisocial behavior, disobedience, or intractability as to thwart correction by parents and to constitute a matter for action by the juvenile courts.

juvenile delinquency

noun

1. antisocial or criminal conduct by juvenile delinquents

Word History and Origins

Origin of juvenile delinquency¹

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

Children who refused to say the pledge for any number of reasons faced expulsion and threats of incarceration, as did their parents for encouraging juvenile delinquency.

From Washington Post

Juvenile delinquency itself has been the subject of much research (especially in the United States) during the past fifty years.

From Project Gutenberg

(i) There was a substantial increase in juvenile delinquency during the Second World War.

From Project Gutenberg

Three of them had juvenile delinquency records—minor stuff, mostly, like copter stunting and public disturbance.

From Project Gutenberg

It seems that people, for the most part, are more interested in the traditional sordid-sensational type of juvenile delinquency.

From Project Gutenberg

Ferrari, in his excellent work on juvenile delinquency, discusses the various motives for deception and malingering in the child.

From Project Gutenberg