Delinquency is criminal behaviour, especially that of young people.
He had no history of delinquency.
...a whole range of crimes and delinquencies.
Synonyms: crime, misconduct, wrongdoing, fault More Synonyms of delinquency
2. See also juvenile delinquency
3. uncountable noun [also NOUN in plural]
Delinquency is failure to pay a debt or tax.
[US, technical]
Not all delinquencies lead to foreclosure.
...increases in mortgage delinquency rates.
More Synonyms of delinquency
delinquency in British English
(dɪˈlɪŋkwənsɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-cies
1.
an offence or misdeed, usually of a minor nature, esp one committed by a young person
juvenile delinquency
2.
failure or negligence in duty or obligation; dereliction
3.
a delinquent nature or delinquent behaviour
Word origin
C17: from Late Latin dēlinquentia a fault, offence, from Latin dēlinquere to transgress, from de- + linquere to forsake
delinquency in American English
(dɪˈlɪŋkwənsi)
nounWord forms: pluraldeˈlinquencies
1.
failure or neglect to do what duty or law requires
2. US
an overdue debt, tax, etc.
3.
a fault: misdeed
4. US
behavior, esp. by the young, that is antisocial or in violation of the law
see also juvenile delinquency
Word origin
LL delinquentia < L delinquens, prp. of delinquere, to leave undone, commit a fault < de-, from + linquere, to leave < IE base *leikw-, to leave > Gr leipein, to leave, OE læn, loan
Examples of 'delinquency' in a sentence
delinquency
Here, with a cohort of equally disaffected friends, he indulges in some minor delinquency and dreams of the day when he will escape to the big city.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
In other languages
delinquency
British English: delinquency NOUN
Delinquency is criminal behaviour, especially that of young people.
He had no history of delinquency.
American English: delinquency
Brazilian Portuguese: delinquência
Chinese: 违法行为
European Spanish: delincuencia
French: délinquance
German: Kriminalität
Italian: delinquenza
Japanese: 犯罪
Korean: > 비행청소년
European Portuguese: delinquência
Latin American Spanish: delincuencia
1 (noun)
He had no history of delinquency.
Synonyms
crime
Much of the city's crime revolves around protection rackets.
misconduct
He was dismissed from his job for gross misconduct.
wrongdoing
The authorities haven't found any evidence of criminal wrongdoing.
fault
Hypocrisy is one fault of which he cannot be accused.
offence
It is a criminal offence to sell goods which are unsafe.
misdemeanour
I knew nothing about my partner's misdemeanours.
misdeed
the alleged financial misdeeds of his government
misbehaviour
This child's misbehaviour could have been avoided.
villainy
They justify their villainy in the name of their high ideals.
lawbreaking
2 (noun)
(US
mortgage delinquency rates
Synonyms
nonpayment
Additional synonyms
in the sense of fault
Definition
a defect or failing
Hypocrisy is one fault of which he cannot be accused.
Synonyms
misdeed,
failing,
wrong,
offence,
sin,
lapse,
misconduct,
wrongdoing,
trespass,
frailty,
misdemeanour,
delinquency,
transgression,
peccadillo
in the sense of misbehaviour
This child's misbehaviour could have been avoided.
Synonyms
misconduct,
mischief,
misdemeanour,
shenanigans (informal),
impropriety,
acting up (informal),
bad behaviour,
misdeeds,
rudeness,
indiscipline,
insubordination,
naughtiness,
monkey business (informal),
incivility
in the sense of misconduct
Definition
behaviour, such as adultery or professional negligence, that is regarded as immoral or unethical
He was dismissed from his job for gross misconduct.