absence

American  

[ab-suhns] / ˈæb səns /

noun

absences plural

1. state of being away or not being present.

   I acted as supervisor in his absence. Your absence was noted on the records.

   Antonyms:

   presence

2. period of being away.

   an absence of several weeks.

3. failure to attend or appear when expected.

4. lack; deficiency.

   the absence of proof.

5. inattentiveness; preoccupation; absent-mindedness.

   absence of mind.

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absence British  

/ ˈæbsəns /

noun

1. the state of being away

2. the time during which a person or thing is away

3. the fact of being without something; lack

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absence Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing absence

• conspicuous by its absence

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• absences
  plural

Etymology

Origin of absence

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin absentia; see absent, -ia

Explanation

Absence is the state of not being someplace, like school. It can also refer to the amount of time something has been, or plans to be gone. We most commonly think of absence as the opposite of present in places school, but really it can refer to anything that's missing or something that's lacking. Darkness is an absence of light, and cold is an absence of heat. The figure of speech "absence makes the heart grow fonder" means "when my beloved isn't here, my feelings for them get even stronger" or "when something's gone, you want it even more."

Example Sentences

Ueda’s Absence: Another curveball for already-jittery markets came when the BOJ said Ueda had been hospitalized and would miss next week’s meeting.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026

"Absence of representation from the community has meant that rights ensured to us by the constitution have not translated to laws. We also have to go to address that," he said.

From Barron's • Jan. 26, 2026

As I wrote in my 2023 book, “The Long Field – Wales and the Presence of Absence, a Memoir,” the very name “Wales” is a Saxon word meaning “Home of the Foreigners.”

From Salon • May 27, 2024

Absence did not make the heart grow fonder for the 75th Prime Time Emmy Awards.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 16, 2024

The Margrave Philip staying behind at Berlin to govern in the King's Absence, the Ribband was sent to him by a Gentleman of the Bed-chamber.

From The Memoirs of Charles-Lewis, Baron de Pollnitz, Volume III Being the Observations He Made in His Late Travels from Prussia thro' Germany, Italy, France, Flanders, Holland, England, &C. in Letters to His Friend. Discovering Not Only the Present State of the Chief Cities and Towns; but the Characters of the Principal Persons at the Several Courts. by P?llnitz, Karl Ludwig von

Related Words

• dearth
• deficiency
• drought
• lack
• omission