in absentia

American  

[in ab-sen-shuh, -shee-uh, -tee-uh] / ɪn æbˈsɛn ʃə, -ʃi ə, -ti ə /

adverb

Latin.

1. in the absence of the person involved.

   He was sentenced in absentia by the court.

---

in absentia British  

/ ɪn æbˈsɛntɪə /

adverb

1. in the absence of (someone indicated)

   he was condemned in absentia

---

in absentia Idioms  

1. While not present, as in He was tried and convicted in absentia, or He was awarded his degree in absentia. This expression is Latin for “in absence”; its use in English dates from the late 1800s.

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

in absentia

A few weeks later, Fritsch was sentenced in absentia to 15 years in federal prison, fined $35,000 and ordered to pay $26,806,901 in restitution.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2026

The grandchildren deserve to know that they were loved, even if that love had to exist in absentia.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 21, 2026

Assad, who fled to exile in Russia after he was pushed from power in December 2024, was convicted in absentia along with his brother Maher, who was an important military commander in the former regime.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026

Hasina, who denies the charges, was tried in absentia after fleeing to India during an anti-government uprising in 2024.

From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026

Finally, the sisters made an announcement that Lina Lovaton would be granted her diploma by government orders in absentia.

From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez