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

See Examples For:

absence absences

If data back this up, their absence worries me greatly because – love them or hate them – wasps are important in ecosystems as pest-controllers, pollinators and decomposers.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 11, 2026

Quarterback Sam Darnold with a hip injury after the opening drive, and the offense sputtered in his absence.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 10, 2026

Amad Diallo's current absence has robbed Carrick of the option to start Bryan Mbeumo at the head of his attack, as he did during pre-season, but Matheus Cunha is not without ability in that role.

From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026

With the revolving door behind the plate in Smith’s absence, getting him back down the stretch and into the postseason was going to be key.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026

Apparently, the old man had found time for an adventure during Jack’s absence.

From "Half Upon a Time" by James Riley

The class-action, led by four ex-warehouse workers, alleges that Amazon deducted their bank of unpaid time off or flagged them for “time off-task” for medically necessary breaks or absences.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026

Representatives of Australia, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands said the absences would not affect the meeting's outcomes.

From Barron's ● Sep. 1, 2026

Raman countered that many of her absences were the result of her attendance on regional boards and oversight bodies.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026

That includes both authorised absences, such as illness, and unauthorised absences, which is when pupils miss school without permission or a valid reason.

From BBC ● Aug. 6, 2026

My absences were beginning to displease Gertrude and she grew testy with me.

From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein

Related Words

• dearth
• deficiency
• drought
• lack
• omission