delinquency

[dih-ling-kwuhn-see]

noun

plural

delinquencies 

1. failure in or neglect of duty or obligation; dereliction; default.

   delinquency in payment of dues.

2. wrongful, illegal, or antisocial behavior.

3. any misdeed, offense, or misdemeanor.

4. something, as a debt, that is past due or otherwise delinquent.

delinquency

/ dɪˈlɪŋkwənsɪ /

noun

1. an offence or misdeed, usually of a minor nature, esp one committed by a young person See juvenile delinquency

2. failure or negligence in duty or obligation; dereliction

3. a delinquent nature or delinquent behaviour

Other Word Forms

• predelinquency noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of delinquency¹

1630–40; < Late Latin dēlinquentia fault, crime, equivalent to Latin dēlinquent- (stem of dēlinquēns, present participle of dēlinquere to do wrong, equivalent to dē- de- + linquere to leave) + -ia noun suffix; -ency

Word History and Origins

Origin of delinquency¹

C17: from Late Latin dēlinquentia a fault, offence, from Latin dēlinquere to transgress, from _de- + linquere to forsake

Example Sentences

"This is not quite everyday delinquency... but it is a type of delinquency that we do not generally associate with the upper echelons of organised crime," Laure Beccuau told franceinfo radio.

Read more on BBC

Recent bankruptcies of auto-related companies First Brands and Tricolor Holdings have also raised concerns about credit quality and the potential for rising loan delinquencies.

Read more on Barron's

Lately there is plenty for the taking, as some car-loan delinquency rates reach record highs.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Deutsche Bank researchers also noted rising household delinquencies as a point to stress, in a Tuesday client note.

Read more on MarketWatch

Low delinquencies across the industry have given more issuers the confidence to lend more.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• default