Which one of the following words correctly matches the explanation. - 'A person who fails in the performance of his duty or commits an offence' ?

(a) derelict

(b) delinquent

(c) culprit

(d) dilettante

The correct answer is 2) (b) only.

Key Points

• A delinquent is a person who fails to obey the law or to do what is expected or required of them.
• Example:- She was worried that her son would become a delinquent if he kept skipping school and hanging out with the wrong crowd.
• This matches the explanation given in the question.
• Therefore, the best option is 2) (b) only.

Additional Information

• A derelict is a person who is homeless, poor or neglected, or a thing that is abandoned or in a state of decay.
  • For example, The old factory was a derelict building that no one wanted to buy.
• A culprit is a person who is responsible for a crime or a wrongdoing.
  • For example, The police finally caught the culprit who had been robbing the houses in the neighborhood.
• A dilettante is a person who has an interest in an art or a subject but does not have much knowledge or skill in it.
  • For example, He was a dilettante who liked to dabble in painting but never took it seriously.