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

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

Trump is mentioned sparingly, and sometimes only in absentia.

From Slate • Feb. 25, 2026

Hasina, 78, who was sentenced to death in absentia for crimes against humanity, issued a statement from hiding in India decrying an "illegal" election.

From Barron's • Feb. 17, 2026

But Ms. Siddiq became embroiled in a corruption scandal in her parents’ homeland, Bangladesh, where this week she was sentenced in absentia to four years in prison.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 4, 2026

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

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela