Showing results for "absent without leave"

• a variation of AWOL.

absent without leave

British  

adjective

1. military the full form of AWOL

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absent without leave Idioms  

1. Away without permission or explanation, as in Her daughter went to the mall but got in trouble for being absent without leave. The term and its acronym, AWOL, originated in the American military during World War I for soldiers absent from duty without permission (leave). It later was transferred to civilian situations, as in John didn't just cut his Tuesday classes; he went AWOL.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

absent without leave

He has been absent without leave since June 14, apparently in a “D.C. area hospital” receiving “excellent care.”

From Salon ● Jul. 10, 2026

Despite the national veneration of units like Vizirenko’s, Ukraine has struggled to recruit and retain fighters, with about 200,000 listed as absent without leave, Ukraine’s Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov told the country’s parliament in January.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026

The Church's own published list of accused clergy marks his case as "not yet resolved" with no final determination of guilt or innocence, noting simply that he is "AWOL" - absent without leave.

From BBC ● May 6, 2025

It was unclear Monday if the soldier is considered absent without leave, or AWOL.

From Seattle Times ● May 6, 2024

So if there's any fatalities come this Christmas Time, Barret', he says, 'or any undue gains in weight or losses in weight, I shall infer, Barret', he says, 'that you was absent without leave.'

From Peace on Earth, Good-will to Dogs by Eleanor Hallowell Abbott