absence
/ˈabs(ə)ns
/noun [mass noun]
1The state of being away from a place or person: the letter had arrived during his absence I supervised the rehearsal in the absence of the director...
- Some more of the team had arrived during our absence, and looked at the pictures of the party.
- He later admitted in a press conference yesterday that his absence was intentional.
- So as the programme drew to a close his absence was felt more than ever before.
Synonyms
non-attendance, non-appearance, absenteeism;
truancy, playing truant, truanting;
leave, holiday, vacation, sabbatical
British informal skiving, bunking off
North American informal playing hookey, goofing off, ditching
Australian/New Zealand playing the wag, wagging
1.1 [count noun] An occasion or period of being away from a place or person: repeated absences from school...
- If a child has ten unauthorised absences during a six-week period then a parent is sent a fixed penalty notice warning.
- However, she came under increasing criticism for her frequent absences while running her other company in Santiago de Chile.
- The under-17 age squad was badly affected by holidays and absences but still turned in some great performances.
1.2 (absence of) The non-existence or lack of: she found his total absence of facial expression disconcerting...
- In the absence of a decent World Cup anthem, we invited you to pen an official Guardian song.
- Mr Wilkins said the absence of a cinema in the town is a commonly raised issue.
- Yes, the almost total absence of rural policing is a major problem in urgent need of a solution.
Synonyms
lack, want, non-existence, unavailability, deficiency, deprivation, dearth;
omission, exclusion, default;
need, privation, famine, drought, poverty
failing, in default of, lacking, wanting, notwithstanding, without
Phrases
absence makes the heart grow fonder
absence of mind
Origin
Late Middle English: from Old French, from Latin absentia, from absens, absent- (see absent).