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.

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in absentia British  

/ ɪn æbˈsɛntɪə /

adverb

1. in the absence of (someone indicated)

   he was condemned in absentia

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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.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

in absentia

The court in Port Sudan, a city under the army's rule, convicted Dagalo - known as Hemedti - in absentia, along with 15 other senior RSF members, who were given the same sentence.

From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026

Bashar and his brother Maher al-Assad were charged in absentia.

From Slate ● May 27, 2026

“The Last of Us” is in absentia, getting ready to tee up an Abby-focused third season.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 26, 2026

It said 413 suspects were already in custody, while arrest warrants had been issued for 73 others who are being prosecuted in absentia.

From BBC ● Apr. 21, 2026

The students of London University elected me president of their Students’ Union, in absentia.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela