Definition

1. Noun:
   • An antisocial misdeed or violation of the law, especially by a minor: The state or act of being delinquent; juvenile wrongdoing.
   • A tendency to be negligent, uncaring, or willfully neglectful of responsibilities: Failure in or neglect of duty or obligation.
   • The nonpayment of a debt when it is due: The condition of being overdue in payment.

Examples of Usage

• Referring to illegal acts by minors:
  • The community center has programs aimed at reducing juvenile delinquency.
  • He was charged with delinquency for vandalizing the property.
• Referring to neglect of duty:
  • His delinquency in completing the assigned tasks led to his dismissal.
  • The manager noted a pattern of delinquency in the employee's attendance.
• Referring to financial default:
  • The bank reported the loan delinquency to the credit agency.
  • A fee is charged for payment delinquency beyond 30 days.

Advanced Usage

• "Juvenile delinquency": A specific legal and sociological term for illegal behavior by minors.
  • Sociologists study the root causes of juvenile delinquency.
• "Willful delinquency": Emphasizes intentional neglect or misconduct.
  • The court considered the act one of willful delinquency.

Variants and Related Words

• Delinquent (adj/noun): Failing in duty; overdue (adj). A person who fails in duty or breaks the law, especially a young person (noun).
  • Delinquent payments (adj).
  • A juvenile delinquent (noun).
• Dereliction (noun): Willful neglect, especially of duty. (Note: This is a close synonym for the 'neglect' sense of delinquency).
  • Dereliction of duty is a serious offense.

Synonyms

• Misconduct: Improper or unlawful behavior.
• Negligence: Failure to take proper care.
• Default: Failure to fulfill an obligation, especially financial.
• Wrongdoing: Illegal or dishonest behavior.

Related Phrases

• "Truancy": A specific type of delinquency referring to a student's unauthorized absence from school.
  • The school has strict policies to address truancy.
• "Status offense": An act that is only considered a violation of the law because of the offender's status as a minor (e.g., running away from home, truancy). This is a key concept within juvenile delinquency.

Noun

1. an antisocial misdeed in violation of the law by a minor
2. a tendency to be negligent and uncaring
   • he inherited his delinquency from his father
   • his derelictions were not really intended as crimes
   • his adolescent protest consisted of willful neglect of all his responsibilities
3. nonpayment of a debt when due