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.
Judges have granted him leave of absence at every hearing so far.
From Barron's • May 27, 2026
He was manager of Bristol City when Theo died and took a brief leave of absence before returning to his role.
From BBC • May 11, 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 fast-growing artificial intelligence company fired the executive, Ryan Beiermeister, in early January, following a leave of absence, according to people familiar with the matter.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 11, 2026
Rumor had it that Mr. Fitt had tipped someone off about Cammy’s raises, and that as a result the dean had been forced to take a leave of absence.
From "Typical American" by Gish Jen
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.
