absenteeism

American  

[ab-suhn-tee-iz-uhm] / ˌæb sənˈti ɪz əm /

noun

1. frequent or habitual absence from work, school, etc..

   rising absenteeism in the industry.

2. the practice of being an absentee landlord.

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absenteeism British  

/ ˌæbsənˈtiːɪzəm /

noun

1. persistent absence from work, school, etc

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absenteeism Cultural  

1. Habitual absence from work, thought to reflect employee demoralization or dissatisfaction.

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Etymology

Origin of absenteeism

First recorded in 1820–30; absentee + -ism

Explanation

If you’ve got no reason to skip school or work, but you do it all the time anyway, you’ve got a bad case of absenteeism. When there's absenteeism, someone isn't showing up. Absenteeism is a word for the habit of being absent. If you miss weeks of school, absenteeism has become a problem. Calling in sick to work every week is another example of absenteeism. Absenteeism can be like a contagious disease — sometimes, entire schools have problems with absenteeism. If there’s a good excuse for the absence, like a serious illness, it’s not absenteeism. So don’t forget those doctor’s notes.

Example Sentences

In 2017/18, only 6% of girls affected by absenteeism were severely absent.

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026

Teachers nationwide shared stories with The 19th about the toll that immigration enforcement is having on students, from chronic absenteeism to emotional distress that makes learning nearly impossible.

From Salon • Mar. 2, 2026

He’s also aggressively pushing to improve attendance, after surging chronic absenteeism, and dealing with other issues ranging from labor to crime on campuses.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 25, 2026

When older, those with ACEs experience higher rates of absenteeism and other issues at work and struggle to remain employed.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 2, 2025

In the Upper House, owing to the large absenteeism of lay lords, the bench of bishops, nominees of the Crown and agents of the British interest, largely held sway.

From Irish History and the Irish Question by Smith, Goldwin