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
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
Those figures are below the average 30-day delinquency rates on a credit card.
—
Preston Fore, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2025
However, credit card debt is at a record high, with the share of serious delinquencies — people carrying a balance for over 90 days — at the highest levels in over a decade, according to second-quarter data from the New York Federal Reserve.
—Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
Aven’s delinquencies haven’t risen as much over the same period, according to Khan.
—Jeff Kauflin, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Borrower delinquencies started appearing on credit reports in 2025, leading to sudden drops in credit scores.
—Rachel Hale, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for delinquency
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Preston Fore, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2025
However, credit card debt is at a record high, with the share of serious delinquencies — people carrying a balance for over 90 days — at the highest levels in over a decade, according to second-quarter data from the New York Federal Reserve.
—Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
Aven’s delinquencies haven’t risen as much over the same period, according to Khan.
—Jeff Kauflin, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Borrower delinquencies started appearing on credit reports in 2025, leading to sudden drops in credit scores.
—Rachel Hale, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for delinquency
Cite this Entry
“Delinquency.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/delinquency. Accessed 15 Sep. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share