juvenile delinquent

American  

noun

1. a minor who cannot be controlled by parental authority and commits antisocial or criminal acts, as vandalism or violence.

2. a child or youth characterized by juvenile delinquency.

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juvenile delinquent British  

noun

1. a child or young person guilty of some offence, act of vandalism, or antisocial behaviour or whose conduct is beyond parental control and who may be brought before a juvenile court

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Etymology

Origin of juvenile delinquent

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

If the Avengers are swaggering mall cops who maintain order for the purpose of selling T-shirts and toys, Shazam is the juvenile delinquent shoplifting their dignity.

From New York Times • Mar. 16, 2023

In my first film, I played a juvenile delinquent — Barbara Hanley.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 22, 2022

Warner said he had a teacher who became his mentor and encouraged his interest in drama, adding that it was a choice between acting or "being a juvenile delinquent".

From BBC • Jul. 25, 2022

He was headed for jail as a juvenile delinquent when a sympathetic judge offered him an alternative: Join the military.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 23, 2022

Now she feared that people would see her as a juvenile delinquent, a criminal, someone with a mark against her name.

From "Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice" by Phillip Hoose

Related Words

• delinquent
• gangster
• hoodlum
• hooligan
• troublemaker