what does delinquent mean

“Delinquent” basically means failing to do what you’re supposed to do , often in a legal, moral, or financial sense.

Core meanings

• A delinquent (noun): usually a young person who regularly does illegal or immoral things, often called a “juvenile delinquent.”

• Delinquent (adjective, behavior/person): acting in an illegal, immoral, or socially unacceptable way.

• Delinquent (adjective, payments/duties): late or overdue on an obligation, like a delinquent loan payment or delinquent taxes.

Everyday examples

• “He’s a juvenile delinquent” = a teenager who keeps breaking the law or school rules.

• “Your account is delinquent” = you’re behind on payments (credit card, rent, loan, taxes, etc.).

• “Delinquent parents” = parents who neglect legal or moral duties, such as not paying court-ordered child support.

Quick nuance

• Legal/crime context: focuses on wrongful behavior , especially by minors, like vandalism or theft.

• Finance/business context: focuses on being past due , like missing payment deadlines on debts.

If you see “delinquent” in news, forums, or documents, check whether it’s talking about a person’s behavior or a late obligation—those are the two most common uses.

TL;DR: “Delinquent” means not doing an important duty—commonly a young person breaking the law, or money/obligations that are overdue.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.