disappearance
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of disappearance
Explanation
A disappearance occurs when something vanishes from sight. The disappearance of the stars behind the clouds makes it a bad night for watching a meteor shower. While this word is often used when something's not visible, you can also use it for something that dies out or ceases to exist, like the disappearance of a particular animal species that's gone extinct or even disappearance of cursive writing in schools. In news stories, the word frequently refers to a crime involving a missing person: "The disappearance of his neighbor was very mysterious."
Vocabulary lists containing disappearance
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Week 3: Investigations
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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 case has drawn attention across Florida and internationally, particularly within Bangladeshi academic communities, as questions mount about the timeline of the students’ disappearance and whether earlier intervention could have altered the outcome.
From Salon • Apr. 25, 2026
Watters also noted that McCasland’s disappearance came “right after Trump announced he was releasing the UFO files.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 25, 2026
Since his father’s disappearance, Wen Hou has created a website to bring awareness to his father’s case.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2026
The primary school being built at the time of the disappearance was demolished in 2014, but despite Donna and her family's pleas the land was not fully excavated.
From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026
The second tryout is the Friday after next, meaning I’ve got about eleven days to learn as much as I can about Quinton and Maria’s disappearance before I have to prove myself again.
From "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston
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.
