juvenile delinquency

noun

1
: conduct by a juvenile characterized by antisocial behavior that is beyond parental control and therefore subject to legal action
2
: a violation of the law committed by a juvenile and not punishable by death or life imprisonment
juvenile delinquent noun

Examples of juvenile delinquency in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Participants in the Tarrant County program are referred by probation officers or district court judges who handle child welfare and juvenile delinquency cases. Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 July 2024 Second, the overall processing of juvenile delinquency cases (i.e. review of allegations, filing of petitions, detention policies, waiver, adjudication, disposition, and placement) often lack consistency and should be reviewed for improvement. Alexander Williams Jr., Baltimore Sun, 27 Mar. 2024 So that movie, the Warriors, had the direct and unambiguous effect of increasing juvenile delinquency? Matt Thompson, Spin, 26 Sep. 2023 Arizona’s and Wisconsin’s self-disclosure forms, which USA TODAY reviewed, ask about criminal convictions and school discipline but not lawsuits or juvenile delinquency proceedings. Kenny Jacoby, USA Today, 13 July 2023 See all Example Sentences for juvenile delinquency 

Word History

First Known Use

1816, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of juvenile delinquency was in 1816

Dictionary Entries Near juvenile delinquency

Cite this Entry

“Juvenile delinquency.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/juvenile%20delinquency. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

juvenile delinquency

noun
: violation of the law (as stealing) or antisocial behavior (as playing hooky from school) by a young person

Medical Definition

juvenile delinquency

noun
1
: conduct by a juvenile characterized by antisocial behavior that is subject to legal action
2
: a violation of the law committed by a juvenile that would have been a crime if committed by an adult

Legal Definition

juvenile delinquency

noun
: a violation of the law committed by a juvenile that would have been a crime if committed by an adult
also : antisocial behavior by juveniles that is subject to legal action

More from Merriam-Webster on juvenile delinquency

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!