leave of absence
Americannoun
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permission to be absent from duty, employment, service, etc.; leave.
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the length of time granted in such permission.
a two-year leave of absence.
noun
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permission to be absent from work or duty
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the period of absence
Etymology
Origin of leave of absence
First recorded in 1765–75
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Judges have granted him leave of absence at every hearing so far.
From Barron's • May 27, 2026
The healthcare IT company where Sanchez works as a senior customer success manager allowed her to take a 60-day unpaid leave of absence but said it would have to terminate her employment afterward.
From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2026
Anderson had earlier last year announced she was taking a "temporary leave of absence", saying that "commentary" was "detracting" from the job.
From BBC • Apr. 20, 2026
I took a leave of absence and recently changed to a position with less responsibility, but that did not help.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 27, 2026
He was given a leave of absence for ill health.
From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
