delinquency

C2+ Topic:Crime & Justice

US /dɪˈlɪŋkwənsi/ UK /dɪˈlɪŋkwənsi/ See IPA manual

noun

Meanings

1

noun
minor crime or a failure to meet an obligation

Programs aimed at reducing juvenile delinquency were funded.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · minor crime or a failure to... misconduct wrongdoing misbehavior crime offense default negligence

Opposites

obedience compliance lawfulness

Word family

Related forms delinquent delict relinquish

Etymology

From Late Latin delinquentia ('fault, crime'), from Latin delinquere ('to fail, offend'), from de- ('away') + linquere ('to leave').

delinquentia Latin delinquere Latin linquere Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Crime & Justice Word Formation & Derivatives

# delinquency

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** dɪˈlɪŋkwənsi
**IPA (UK):** dɪˈlɪŋkwənsi

## Meanings
1. minor crime or a failure to meet an obligation

## Examples
- Programs aimed at reducing juvenile delinquency were funded.

## Synonyms
- misconduct
- wrongdoing
- misbehavior
- crime
- offense
- default
- negligence

## Antonyms
- obedience
- compliance
- lawfulness

## Related Forms
- delinquent
- delict
- relinquish

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: delinquentia
- Root: delinquere
- Root: linquere

## Etymology
From Late Latin delinquentia ('fault, crime'), from Latin delinquere ('to fail, offend'), from de- ('away') + linquere ('to leave').

## AI Etymology
Delinquency is from Late Latin delinquentia ('fault, crime'), from Latin delinquere ('to fail, offend'), from de- ('away') + linquere ('to leave'). In present-day use, it means minor crime or a failure to meet an obligation. Related vocabulary includes delinquent, delict, and relinquish.

## Topics
- Crime & Justice
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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delinquency

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