"failure or omission of duty or obligation," 1630s, from Late Latin delinquentia "fault, crime, delinquency," from Latin delinquentem (see delinquent).
Entries linking to delinquency
delinquent n.
late 15c., "one who fails to perform a duty or discharge an obligation," also, generally, "an offender against the law," a noun use from Latin delinquentum (nominative delinquens), present participle of delinquere "to fail; be wanting, fall short; do wrong, transgress, offend," from de- "completely" (see de-) + linquere "to leave" (from PIE root *leikw- "to leave"). As an adjective, "failing or neglectful in duty," from c. 1600 in English.