delinquent

American  

[dih-ling-kwuhnt] / dɪˈlɪŋ kwənt /

adjective

1. failing in or neglectful of a duty or obligation; guilty of a misdeed or offense.

2. (of an account, tax, debt, etc.) past due; overdue.

3. of or relating to delinquents or delinquency.

   delinquent attitudes.

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noun

1. a person who is delinquent.

2. juvenile delinquent.

delinquent British  

/ dɪˈlɪŋkwənt /

noun

1. someone, esp a young person, guilty of delinquency See juvenile delinquent

2. archaic a person who fails in an obligation or duty

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adjective

1. guilty of an offence or misdeed, esp one of a minor nature

2. failing in or neglectful of duty or obligation

Other Word Forms

• delinquently adverb
• nondelinquent adjective
• predelinquent adjective
• predelinquently adverb
• undelinquent adjective
• undelinquently adverb

Etymology

Origin of delinquent

1475–85; < Latin dēlinquent-; delinquency

Example Sentences

The settlement specified that Iswarienko would hand over his photographs no later than Sept. 1, 2024, making him “14 months delinquent.”

From MarketWatch

By law, federal agencies are able to order a nonfederal employer to withhold up to 15% of an employee’s income to pay a delinquent debt, according to the U.S.

From Barron's

“You don’t have to pay extra, but you can’t have anything be delinquent,” if you want your score to improve, Raneri said.

From MarketWatch

More than five million federal student loan borrowers are seriously delinquent on their loans and over three million haven’t made a payment in more than 270 days, according to Education Department data.

From The Wall Street Journal

“We have to work for these delinquents. And no one in the government helps us.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• felon
• hoodlum
• juvenile delinquent
• lawbreaker
• offender
• wrongdoer