Delinquent

Quick meaning: Delinquent is an adjective meaning Late or failing to pay a debt or other financial obligation, like a mortgage or loan.

Meaning

Late or failing to pay a debt or other financial obligation, like a mortgage or loan.

More Meanings

1. Of a payment or other financial obligation: late or otherwise unfulfilled.
2. Failing in or neglectful of a duty or obligation; guilty of a misdeed or offense
3. One who disobeys or breaks rules or laws, or who acts against another's wishes.
4. A person who has not paid their debts.
5. (historical, derogatory) A royalist in the First English Civil War (1642-1646).

Example Sentences

Fred is delinquent in making his car payment.

The company made a new effort to collect delinquent payments.

The station's financial difficulties came to a head last week when the Internal Revenue Service had its bank accounts frozen as a result of delinquent taxes.

She had the consolation of knowing that any offence given to her dignity could be avenged on the delinquent who caused it, an act of justice which could not fail to be consolatory, since every one of her daughters had at times stood in stead of "guid King James's whipping-boy," when circumstances arose to disturb the equanimity of Lady Anne's imperious and irascible temper.

Word Forms

• delinquents

Synonyms for delinquent

Depending on context, synonyms include defaulting, cavalier, derelict, incorrigible, remiss, negligent.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include guilty, derelict, overdue, neglectful, remiss, negligent.

Related Dictionary Tools