attendance

noun

at·​ten·​dance ə-ˈten-dən(t)s 

1

: the act or fact of attending something or someone

a physician in attendance

Attendance at the meeting is mandatory.

2

a

: the persons or number of persons attending something

Attendance at the soccer games has been increasing.

also : an account of persons attending

The teacher took attendance [=made a record of who was present] before starting class.

b

: the number of times a person attends

a student who has perfect attendance [=a student who has been present at every class]

Examples of attendance in a Sentence

The team wants to double attendance at its games this season.

Attendance is down so far this season.

Museum attendances in the city have been increasing in recent years.

Her grades are good, but how's her attendance?

Recent Examples on the Web

Fans should once again flock to the Championship, which last season posted its third-highest aggregate attendance figure since the Second World War. — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026

For students from outside of Arizona, tuition is more than $35,000 and the total cost of attendance is around $60,000 before scholarships. — ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026

But other metrics, such as regular weekly church attendance, analyzed by other pollsters don’t show this same uptick. — Chantelle Lee, Time, 14 Aug. 2026

Audience attendance has already declined sharply for various reasons. — Anastasia Tsioulcas, NPR, 14 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

see attend

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing attendance

• attendance officer
• dance attendance
• in attendance
• take attendance

Rhymes for attendance

• ascendance
• dependance
• dependence
• transcendence
• interdependence
• superintendence
• tendance

Kids Definition

attendance

noun

at·​ten·​dance ə-ˈten-dən(t)s 

1

: the act of attending

2

a

: the number of persons attending

b

: the number of times a person attends

perfect attendance

Medical Definition

attendance

noun

at·​ten·​dance ə-ˈten-dən(t)s 

: service at a hospital

a physician in attendance