delinquency
/dɪˈlɪŋkwənsɪ/noun
(pl.-ies)［mass noun］
1- minor crime, especially that committed by young people不良行为, 少年犯罪：
social causes of crime and delinquency
犯罪和不良行为的社会原因
1.1
- formal neglect of one's duty〈正式〉玩忽职守：
he relayed this in such a manner as to imply grave delinquency on the host's part.
他对此的转述方式暗示着主持人犯有严重的玩忽职守。
1.2
- count noun chiefly US a failure to pay an outstanding debt〈主美〉拖欠债务。
词源
mid 17th cent.: from ecclesiastical Latin delinquentia, from Latin delinquent- 'offending' （see DELINQUENT）.