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

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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

See Examples For:

absenteeism

"Fewer teachers want to work there, so the teachers are younger, there are more temporary staff, and there's higher absenteeism," he said.

From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026

The rate of chronic absenteeism was 18.3% of students, approaching 1 in 5 students — an improvement of 1.1 percentage points.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 15, 2026

In 2024, Medford High School in Boston grappled with chronic absenteeism.

From Slate ● Sep. 5, 2026

Scholars have long suspected there is a link between heat and economic development, arguing that hot weather saps energy and productivity by increasing absenteeism and causing more workplace errors.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026

Don't you know these men better than I do, who pass lives of absenteeism from their country; how little they care how or whence money comes, provided they get it?

From The Bramleighs of Bishop's Folly by Charles James Lever

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