bad or criminal behaviour, usually of young people (常指青年人的)犯罪,违法行为 an increase in juvenile delinquency 青少年犯罪的增加 The boys drift into minor delinquencies while hanging around the streets. 那些男孩子在街上闲逛时卷入一些轻微的违法行为。
Word Originmid 17th cent.: from ecclesiastical Latin delinquentia, from Latin delinquent- ‘offending’, from the verb delinquere, from de- ‘away’ + linquere ‘to leave’.