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.
Henderson, who worked with Sandilands for about 27 years, took a leave of absence following the duo's on-air clash.
From BBC ● Jun. 17, 2026
The healthcare IT company where Sanchez works as a senior customer success manager allowed her to take a 60-day unpaid leave of absence but said it would have to terminate her employment afterward.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 27, 2026
Judges have granted him leave of absence at every hearing so far.
From Barron's ● May 27, 2026
Andrew Castellano had tough news for his parents over the winter break: He was taking a leave of absence from Harvard University halfway through his sophomore year to work full-time on his AI startup.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 5, 2026
Early in 1596, he was granted leave of absence from his teaching duties to visit his ailing grandparents, and took the opportunity to call in on Maestlin in Tübingen.
From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin
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.
