absentee
Americannoun
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a person who is absent, especially from work or school.
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a person who is defined by their absence, such as a landowner who does not live on certain property owned or a voter who is permitted to cast a ballot by mail.
noun
Etymology
Origin of absentee
Explanation
An absentee is someone who doesn't show up when she's supposed to. A high school student who's an absentee too often may end up failing some classes. If the star player of your basketball team doesn't show up for the big game, she's an absentee. Likewise, if you skip work to go to the beach on a beautiful day, your boss will consider you an absentee. If you fill out an absentee ballot before an election, you're using a special form for voters who won't be physically present at the polls. The Latin root is absentem, "be away from."
Vocabulary lists containing absentee
This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for November 1–November 7, 2025
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Government by the People, Sections 4–7
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for May 25–May 31, 2025
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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.
Absentees were given an opportunity to earn back their credits if they made up missed assignments and resumed regular attendance.
From Washington Times • Sep. 19, 2016
Absentees can arrange to send in their votes by mail.
From Time Magazine Archive
Absentees last week planned campaigns to recapture lost ground beginning June 1.
From Time Magazine Archive
“The Old Gym. A quarter past twelve. Latecomers will receive a week’s detention. Absentees will be expelled. That is all.”
From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell
Absentees were fined one pound of wax towards the aforesaid, candle.
From The Thirteenth Greatest of Centuries by Walsh, James J. (James Joseph)
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.
