Synonyms

absent without leave

British

adjective

military the full form of AWOL

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

absent without leave Idioms

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.

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.

Last month the country's defence minister revealed that a staggering 200,000 soldiers were absent without leave.

From BBC • Feb. 4, 2026

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

From Seattle Times • May 6, 2024

The Pentagon has so far described King’s formal status as “AWOL,” or absent without leave.

From Reuters • Aug. 4, 2023

The Navy said he had gone absent without leave and had been listed as an “active deserter” since March 11, 2019.

From New York Times • Jan. 20, 2023

But, fortunately for me, General Leonidas Polk has issued an order that very day promising pardon to all soldiers absent without leave if they would return.

From "Co. Aytch" Maury Grays, First Tennessee Regiment or, A Side Show of the Big Show by Watkins, Sam R.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023