truant

[troo-uhnt]

noun

1. a student who stays away from school without permission.

2. a person who shirks or neglects a duty.

   Synonyms: malingerer, loafer, layabout, shirker, idler

adjective

1. absent from school without permission.

2. neglectful of duty or responsibility; idle.

3. of, relating to, or characteristic of a person who neglects a duty, responsibility, or required attendance.

verb (used without object)

1. to be neglectful of duty, responsibility, or attendence.

truant

/ ˈtruːənt /

noun

1. a person who is absent without leave, esp from school

adjective

1. being or relating to a truant

verb

1. (intr) to play truant

Other Word Forms

• truantly adverb
• nontruant noun
• untruant adjective
• truancy noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of truant¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English from Old French: “vagrant, beggar” from Celtic; compare Welsh truan “wretched, wretch”

Word History and Origins

Origin of truant¹

C13: from Old French: vagabond, probably of Celtic origin; compare Welsh truan miserable, Old Irish trōg wretched

Example Sentences

He was a serial truant and left school at 15 without learning to read or write.

From BBC

As one might have predicted, the trio of 14-year-old supposedly truant adolescents quickly overwhelmed the comic.

From Salon

Q: How do you explain to your progressive supporters that as a district attorney, you championed legislation that allowed parents of chronically truant students to be prosecuted?

From Salon

Last winter, Kvistad doubled down, contacting educators in 19 King County districts and charter schools to improve communication about truant kids.

From Seattle Times

Statewide, nearly a quarter of American Indian and Alaska Native students were truant in the 2021-2022 school year, according to OSPI’s report.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• absentee