disappearance
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of disappearance
Explanation
A disappearance occurs when something vanishes from sight. The disappearance of the stars behind the clouds makes it a bad night for watching a meteor shower. While this word is often used when something's not visible, you can also use it for something that dies out or ceases to exist, like the disappearance of a particular animal species that's gone extinct or even disappearance of cursive writing in schools. In news stories, the word frequently refers to a crime involving a missing person: "The disappearance of his neighbor was very mysterious."
Vocabulary lists containing disappearance
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Week 3: Investigations
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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.
She was also convicted of fraud over the disappearance of a large amount of public funds and sentenced to a total of 3 years and 11 months.
From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026
According to the study, their disappearance likely resulted from a combination of climate instability, population pressures, and social structure.
From Science Daily • Apr. 28, 2026
The February disappearance of a 68-year-old retired Air Force general, William “Neil” McCasland, kicked the theorizing into high gear, particularly once a local FBI field office joined the search early last month.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 25, 2026
Since his father’s disappearance, Wen Hou has created a website to bring awareness to his father’s case.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2026
Yet there is no evidence of any significant disappearance of oceanic fauna 45,000 years ago.
From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari
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.
