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
Synonyms
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
That's double the delinquency rate of 1.57% from the pandemic low in the second quarter of 2021.
—
Jason Lalljee, Axios, 28 Jan. 2025
The delinquency rate among high earners is near a five-year high, rising 130% over the last two years from January 2023 to December 2024, according to a new report by VantageScore, a national credit company, released early to CNBC.
—Stephanie Dhue,sharon Epperson, CNBC, 27 Jan. 2025
Credit card balances 30+ days past due also rose to 3.52% from July through September 2024, more than double the delinquency rate of 1.57% at the pandemic low from April through June 2021, the Philadelphia Fed said.
—Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 27 Jan. 2025
Along with the trend in minimum payments came a move higher in delinquency rates.
—Bill Hardekopf, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for delinquency 
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Jason Lalljee, Axios, 28 Jan. 2025
The delinquency rate among high earners is near a five-year high, rising 130% over the last two years from January 2023 to December 2024, according to a new report by VantageScore, a national credit company, released early to CNBC.
—Stephanie Dhue,sharon Epperson, CNBC, 27 Jan. 2025
Credit card balances 30+ days past due also rose to 3.52% from July through September 2024, more than double the delinquency rate of 1.57% at the pandemic low from April through June 2021, the Philadelphia Fed said.
—Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 27 Jan. 2025
Along with the trend in minimum payments came a move higher in delinquency rates.
—Bill Hardekopf, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for delinquency
Dictionary Entries Near delinquency
Cite this Entry
“Delinquency.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/delinquency. Accessed 5 Feb. 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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