-nsē, -nsi noun
( -es )
Etymology: Late Latin delinquentia, from Latin delinquent-, delinquens (present participle of delinquere ) + -ia -y
: the quality or state of being delinquent: as
a. : failure, omission, or violation of duty : transgression of law
b. : misdeed , fault , offense : misfeasance , malfeasance , misdemeanor ; often : a tendency to commit such offenses — usually distinguished from crime on the basis of an implied psychological rather than a judicial attitude toward the offender
c. : a debt on which payment of interest or principal is in arrears — used especially of taxes and mortgage loans