French Conversation · Level 118
59 words
French word
délinquance
Pronunciation
IPA/delɛ̃kɑ̃s/
Meaning
- feminine nouncrime
Example
La délinquance crée un climat d'insécurité en ville.
Crime creates a climate of insecurity in the city.
More examples
La délinquance juvénile inquiète les parents et les enseignants.
Juvenile delinquency worries parents and teachers.
Core concept
A cluster of recurring acts against law and social rules that makes a community feel unsafe.
Common phrases
délinquance juvénile
juvenile delinquency
lutte contre la délinquance
fight against crime
Similar words
criminalité: The occurrence or prevalence of crimes such as murder and theft.
crime: A serious criminal act, such as murder.
délit: A relatively minor illegal act prohibited by law.
infraction: An act that violates a law or regulation.
Definition in French
Ensemble d'actes contraires à la loi et aux règles sociales.
Word origin
The French noun comes from Medieval Latin delinquentia, derived from Latin delinquere, meaning 'to fail or do wrong'.
Usage tips
- Délinquance is usually a feminine singular mass noun, as in la délinquance, when it refers to crime as a social phenomenon.
Other meanings
- delinquencynoun
Related words
- délinquantdelinquentnoun