MIA
missing in action.
MIA
1 American-
MIA's,
plural
-
MIAs
plural
-
missing in action.
-
a soldier declared missing in action.
M.I.A.
2
American
abbreviation
-
Master of International Affairs.
-
Military. missing in action.
MIA
British
abbreviation
-
military missing in action: officially unaccounted for following combat
-
(in Australia) Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area
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.
See Examples For:
“Feeding frenzy” and “character assassination” were terms tossed about later, but with Joanna MIA and the investigation continuing, very little concern was expressed for Mr. Jefferies.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 31, 2025
As a result, history and original meaning were MIA in a dispute when they should have been front and center.
From Slate ● Dec. 11, 2025
With James MIA, there’s still no need to worry about star power.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 5, 2025
When they went out, the singer and her siblings would blast out hits by Coldplay, MIA, Lily Allen and Daughter.
From BBC ● Apr. 5, 2025
“You got it, man. Morty shows. We almost chalk him up as MIA, and then, bingo, he shows.”
From "The Things They Carried" by Tim O'Brien
After a brief hiatus due to the 2020 pandemic, the event returned in 2022 with Interpol, Modest Mouse, the Shins and M.I.A.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 24, 2026
London-born singer M.I.A. began releasing music in 2003, and became a sensation thanks to her unconventional sound and discussion of political themes influenced by her upbringing as a child of Sri Lankan parents.
From BBC ● May 5, 2026
Kudi’s 33-show Rebel Ragers tour kicked off March 28 with M.I.A. and Big Boi billed as the opening acts.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 5, 2026
There are moments that hint at Kate Bush, Bjork, M.I.A. and Santigold.
From New York Times ● Jun. 3, 2024
Observe the attitude and response of each of the members of a typical Sunday School, Kindergarten, of an advanced M.I.A. class.
From Principles of Teaching by Adam S. Bennion
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.
