noun

delinquency

dih-LING-kwuhn-see/dɪˈlɪŋkwənsi/

Failure to meet a duty or required standard.

The teenagers' delinquency takes the form of deliberately damaging the park bench.

Two teenagers mischievously damage a public park bench by snapping a slat while a nearby adult reacts with disapproval; minor antisocial wrongdoing, no weapons or stereotypes, no graffiti text.

Etymology

The combination of de- and linquere produced a verb meaning to fall short, fail, or transgress. Delinquency first named failure in duty or obligation, connecting the older sense of neglect with unlawful or antisocial conduct.

In context

Ford School of Public Policy60:22

explain their difficulty finding work in terms of past delinquency such as drug and alcohol abuse or felony convictions

Jobs and Housing Panel

More examples

The bank contacts borrowers after thirty days of payment delinquency.
Her delinquency in carrying out assigned duties prompts a formal warning.
The audit reveals repeated delinquencies in filing required reports.

Forms

delinquency · delinquencies

delinquent adjective — Failing to meet an obligation on time.

Similar words

default: Default usually means failure to repay a debt as agreed.
negligence: Negligence stresses a lack of proper care rather than lateness.
noncompliance: Noncompliance means failing to follow a rule or requirement.