Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

delinquency

/dɪˈlɪŋkwənsi/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 2.92 in modern English

Syllables: delin-quen-cy
IPA: /dɪˈlɪŋkwənsi/

26

Scrabble Score

11

Letters

4

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Countable; Uncountable

noun

A criminal offense.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

A debt that is overdue for payment.

Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

"Commercial and multifamily mortgage delinquencies increased in the first quarter of 2023, according to a new report from the Mortgage Bankers Association. […] The quarterly analysis looks at delinquency rates for five of the largest investor groups: FDIC-insured banks and thrifts, commercial mortgage-backed securities, life insurance companies, and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac."

Etymology

Borrowed from Late Latin dēlinquentia, derived from Latin dēlinquēns, present participle of dēlinquō (“to transgress, err”). By surface analysis, delinquent + -cy

Origin

Source language: Latin

Word Breakdown

Root: *leykʷ-, dēlinquēns

Regional Pronunciation

British English: /dɪˈlɪŋkwənsi/

Usage

Inflected Forms

delinquencies (plural)

Derived Forms

predelinquency

Phrases

juvenile delinquency

Synonyms

misdemeanor transgression wrong crime criminal offence criminality delinquency malefaction perpetration unlaw unlawfulness delict

Questions

How do you pronounce delinquency?: The recorded pronunciation is /dɪˈlɪŋkwənsi/.
What does delinquency mean?: Misconduct.
Where does delinquency come from?: It is traced to Latin.

How to pronounce delinquency

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “delinquency”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/dɪˈlɪŋkwənsi/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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