delinquency
noun
de·lin·quen·cy
di-ˈliŋ-kwən-sē 
-ˈlin-
plural delinquencies
1
a
: a delinquent act
b
: conduct that is out of accord with accepted behavior or the law
especially
: juvenile delinquency
2
: a debt on which payment is overdue
Examples of delinquency in a Sentence
They tried to steer him away from delinquency by giving him a job in their store.
She's been charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
a series of minor delinquencies
a high rate of delinquency
Recent Examples on the Web
Waves of slumping values, loan delinquencies and foreclosures have haunted hotels, office buildings, apartment complexes and even vacant land throughout the Bay Area, including Santa Clara County.
—
George Avalos, Mercury News, 3 July 2025
Another 4 million are in late-stage delinquency, between 91 and 180 days past due.
—Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025
For the company specifically, Fairbank pointed out that since the fourth quarter of 2024, Capital One’s delinquency trends have steadily improved.
—Morgan Chittum,kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 11 June 2025
In 2023, the Supreme Court found the government of Hennepin County, Minnesota, was unfairly pocketing proceeds from homes and businesses sold after years of property tax delinquency.
—A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for delinquency
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George Avalos, Mercury News, 3 July 2025
Another 4 million are in late-stage delinquency, between 91 and 180 days past due.
—Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025
For the company specifically, Fairbank pointed out that since the fourth quarter of 2024, Capital One’s delinquency trends have steadily improved.
—Morgan Chittum,kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 11 June 2025
In 2023, the Supreme Court found the government of Hennepin County, Minnesota, was unfairly pocketing proceeds from homes and businesses sold after years of property tax delinquency.
—A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for delinquency
Cite this Entry
“Delinquency.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/delinquency. Accessed 17 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
delinquency
noun
de·lin·quen·cy
di-ˈliŋ-kwən-sē, -ˈlin-
plural delinquencies
: conduct that is out of accord with accepted behavior or the law
especially
: juvenile delinquency
Legal Definition
delinquency
noun
de·lin·quen·cy
di-ˈliŋ-kwən-sē
plural delinquencies
1
a
: the quality or state of being delinquent
b
: juvenile delinquency
contributing to the delinquency of a minor
2
: a debt on which payment is overdue
consumer loan delinquencies
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