leave of absence
Americannoun
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permission to be absent from duty, employment, service, etc.; leave.
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the length of time granted in such permission.
a two-year leave of absence.
noun
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permission to be absent from work or duty
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the period of absence
Etymology
Origin of leave of absence
First recorded in 1765–75
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.
The manager granted Ronald Araujo a leave of absence in December to prioritise his mental health, describing it as a private situation.
From BBC • May 11, 2026
On Friday evening, Mr. Rocha Moya said he would take a leave of absence while Mexico conducts an investigation.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 3, 2026
I took a leave of absence and recently changed to a position with less responsibility, but that did not help.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 27, 2026
The networking platform for medical professionals cut its full-year sales outlook and said its chief financial officer was taking a temporary leave of absence.
From Barron's • Feb. 6, 2026
In 1952, Dorothy Hoover decided to take a leave of absence from the world of engineering and give herself over to the theoretical pursuits that were closest to her heart.
From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly
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.
