absentee

noun

ab·​sen·​tee ˌab-sən-ˈtē 

: one that is absent: such as

a

: a proprietor of an estate or business who lives far away from it and rarely visits it

b

: one missing from work or school

absentee adjective

Examples of absentee in a Sentence

There were 10 sick absentees that day.

Recent Examples on the Web

No-excuse absentee voting for the KC-area municipal elections is available from March 24 through April 3. —The Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 31 Mar. 2026

The overall absentee rate among TSA officers scheduled to work dipped slightly on Sunday, according to Homeland Security. —Josh Funk, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026

Gorrín has even played an absentee role as a potential witness in the ongoing Miami federal trial of former Miami-Dade Congressman David Rivera, who is accused of failing to register as a foreign agent for the government of Venezuela. —Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2026

Trump has voted absentee or by mail multiple times in recent elections, including while living in Florida after leaving the White House. —Josh Meyer, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Anglo-French abscenté "person holding property in Ireland but illegally resident in England," from past participle of absenter "to be absent," verbal derivative of absent absent entry 1

First Known Use

1537, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing absentee

• absentee ballot
• absentee landlord

Rhymes for absentee

• agree
• allee
• banshee
• beastly
• bibi
• bowsprit
• carefree
• cerci
• chablis
• cowpea
• crappie
• crappy

Kids Definition

absentee

noun

ab·​sen·​tee ˌab-sən-ˈtē 

: a person who is absent

absentee adjective

Legal Definition

absentee

noun

ab·​sen·​tee ˌab-sən-ˈtē 

: one that is absent: as

a

: a proprietor who lives away from his or her business or estate

b

: a potential party to a legal action who is not present or does not have a representative present at a proceeding

absentee adjective