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 quarterly results come after Home Depot last week said Ted Decker, its chief executive, would take a temporary medical leave of absence.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026
Home Depot Chief Executive Ted Decker is taking a temporary medical leave of absence.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026
A week after, he was granted a leave of absence to prioritise his mental health and received professional support and treatment to "take care of himself emotionally".
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026
Taking a leave of absence because she is burned out is also… a choice.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 29, 2026
After weeks of prayer, I decided to take a leave of absence from my career and join the fight overseas.
From "The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates" by Wes Moore
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.
