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

Local authorities generally provide multiple notices and opportunities to resolve delinquent taxes before taking extreme measures such as foreclosure.

From MarketWatch

The amount of delinquent credit-card debt and auto loans has stabilized for now, but remains at elevated levels.

From MarketWatch

A homeowner is considered to be seriously delinquent when they are 90 days late on their mortgage payment.

From MarketWatch

That freeze ended up lasting more than three years, with an additional year of “on-ramping” in which late payments didn’t count as delinquent or impact credit scores.

From Barron's

These auto-loan figures exclude accounts that are regarded as “seriously derogatory,” which refer to severely delinquent, charged-off or repossessed debts that are usually shut down and written off by lenders.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

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