Delinquent describes someone who fails to do what they're supposed to do, especially when it comes to responsibilities or following rules.

The word often appears in two main contexts. Someone with a delinquent account hasn't paid their bills on time. A library book becomes delinquent when you keep it past its due date. In these cases, delinquent simply means overdue or late.

More seriously, a juvenile delinquent is a young person who repeatedly breaks laws or refuses to follow important rules. This might mean skipping school constantly, vandalizing property, or committing crimes. The term focuses on patterns of behavior rather than single mistakes. Everyone makes poor choices sometimes, but delinquency means a pattern of ignoring responsibilities or breaking rules.

The word carries a warning tone. When a teacher says a student is becoming delinquent in homework, they mean the pattern of missing assignments is becoming a problem that needs fixing. When a bill becomes delinquent, consequences usually follow: late fees, lost privileges, or damaged credit.