attendance
Americannoun
-
the act of attending.
-
the persons or number of persons present.
an attendance of more than 300 veterans.
idioms
noun
-
the act or state of attending
-
the number of persons present
an attendance of 5000 at the festival
-
obsolete attendants collectively; retinue
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of attendance
1325–75; Middle English < Anglo-French, Middle French. See attend, -ance
Explanation
Attendance has to do with being present at something, like work or school. If you never miss a day, you have perfect attendance. The concept of attendance has to do with showing up: if you show up for school, then your attendance is not in question. When people miss school or work, they usually need a note from a doctor, explaining why they weren't in attendance. We can also say "The attendance was 100" if 100 people showed up to a meeting. If only three people out of 100 showed up though, you'd say, "Wow. Attendance was terrible."
Vocabulary lists containing attendance
A Graduation Lexicon
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
List 1
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
List 4
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Officers took children in attendance to nearby a station where their parents could pick them up, McOsker said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 5, 2026
As the Centers for Disease Control put it, “students who are physically active tend to have better grades, school attendance, classroom behaviors, and cognitive performance.”
From Slate ● Sep. 5, 2026
USC football announced its attendance at last Saturday’s game was 51,144.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 5, 2026
Atwater was in attendance for a late April gala to celebrate the publication of “Declare.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026
But it was no use; all witches in attendance were arguing and yelling, and the room only grew louder and louder.
From "Witchlings" by Claribel A. Ortega
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
