missing in action
Americanadjective
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missing during military operations and not confirmed to have been killed. Abbreviation: MIA.
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(figuratively) missing or absent in a way that is noteworthy or surprising.
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.
If all three oppose the nomination, Blanche could be toast, given that 84-year-old Sen. Mitch McConnell has been missing in action for almost two months for medical issues, with no sign of a pending return.
From Slate ● Aug. 6, 2026
The fresh fighting came after a weekend in which the US announced three new US military fatalities and one service member missing in action.
From Barron's ● Jul. 20, 2026
The striking absence of Erika Kirk, who spoke at the kick-off event in Los Angeles but has otherwise been missing in action.
From Salon ● May 17, 2026
But in May that first year, Nazar went missing in action.
From BBC ● Feb. 6, 2026
Walter Cronkite didn’t read off the names of the missing in action, so Lieutenant Baker was never mentioned.
From "The Wednesday Wars" by Gary D. Schmidt
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.
