What does delinquency mean?
Delinquency is a formal noun describing failure to do what one's duty or the law requires. Its most familiar use today is in "juvenile delinquency," referring to antisocial or illegal behavior by young people — typically acts such as vandalism, petty theft, or truancy. In finance, delinquency takes on a precise meaning: a borrower's failure to make scheduled payments on a loan, mortgage, or tax bill on time. More broadly, it can denote any neglect of responsibility, as in an employee's delinquency in filing reports. The word comes from the Latin delinquere, meaning "to fail" or "to leave undone," which captures its core sense: not necessarily serious crime, but the leaving undone of what ought to be done. Delinquency carries a negative connotation and appears chiefly in legal, academic, and financial writing. It is related to "delinquent," which can describe either a person guilty of such failure or an account that is past due.
nounFailure to do what law or duty requires, especially minor wrongdoing; also the state of falling behind in payments or obligations.
- Failure to perform a duty or obligation required by law, especially minor criminal behavior by young people (juvenile delinquency).
- Failure to pay money owed on time, as with loans, taxes, or rent.
- General neglect or dereliction of duty.
"The report linked rising juvenile delinquency to cuts in after-school programs."
"Community mentors have helped reduce juvenile delinquency in the district."
"The bank reported a rise in mortgage delinquency last quarter."
Used mainly when counting individual instances of missed payments or specific acts of misconduct; the singular often suffices for the general concept.
"The lender's delinquencies rose sharply during the recession."
The Latin verb behind it, delinquere, literally meant "to leave something undone" — so a delinquent is someone who simply walked away from their duty.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of delinquency
Delinquency derives from the Latin delinquere, formed from de- ("away, aside") and linquere ("to leave"), so its literal sense was "to leave something undone" — to fail in one's duty. The word entered English in the early 17th century via the adjective and noun "delinquent," borrowed from Late Latin delinquentem. The specific phrase "juvenile delinquency" became widespread in the 19th century as modern legal systems began treating young offenders as a distinct social category.
Related word forms
How delinquency is actually used
Formal register, common in legal, financial, and sociological contexts. In everyday speech it appears most often in "juvenile delinquency" and in finance ("delinquency rate"). It carries negative connotations but is neutral-technical rather than insulting.
Easily confused with delinquency
"Delinquent" is the noun or adjective for a person who fails in duty or commits a minor offense (or a debt that is overdue), while "delinquency" is the abstract quality or act of such failure.
"Deficiency" means a lack or shortage of something needed, whereas "delinquency" means a failure to fulfill a duty, obligation, or payment.