absenteeism

American  

[ab-suhn-tee-iz-uhm] / ˌæb sənˈti ɪz əm /

noun

1. frequent or habitual absence from work, school, etc..

   rising absenteeism in the industry.

2. the practice of being an absentee landlord.

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absenteeism British  

/ ˌæbsənˈtiːɪzəm /

noun

1. persistent absence from work, school, etc

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absenteeism Cultural  

1. Habitual absence from work, thought to reflect employee demoralization or dissatisfaction.

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Etymology

Origin of absenteeism

First recorded in 1820–30; absentee + -ism

Explanation

If you’ve got no reason to skip school or work, but you do it all the time anyway, you’ve got a bad case of absenteeism. When there's absenteeism, someone isn't showing up. Absenteeism is a word for the habit of being absent. If you miss weeks of school, absenteeism has become a problem. Calling in sick to work every week is another example of absenteeism. Absenteeism can be like a contagious disease — sometimes, entire schools have problems with absenteeism. If there’s a good excuse for the absence, like a serious illness, it’s not absenteeism. So don’t forget those doctor’s notes.

Example Sentences

Absenteeism has shrunk by two-thirds and applications to work at Tylor Grange are flooding in.

From BBC • Feb. 20, 2023

Absenteeism among bus operators is at normal levels, he said, adding that “there are currently no plans to reinstate rear-door boarding.”

From Washington Post • Apr. 23, 2022

Absenteeism surged immediately, even in areas where COVID-19 had yet to be detected, according to someone familiar with Amazon’s response to the crisis.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 4, 2021

Absenteeism of college students from math classes is a major concern to math instructors because missing class appears to increase the drop rate.

From Textbooks • Sep. 19, 2013

Absenteeism was the drag paramount upon Congressional action.

From The United States of America, Part 1 by Sparks, Edwin Erle