absentee

noun ab·sen·tee \ ˌab-sən-ˈtē \

|Updated on: 4 Aug 2018

Examples: absentee in a Sentence

Definition of absentee

: one that is absent: such as

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

b : one missing from work or school

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absentee

adjective

See absentee defined for English-language learners

See absentee defined for kids

Examples of absentee in a Sentence

There were 10 sick absentees that day.

Recent Examples of absentee from the Web

Collingswood already has a detailed history in trying to retain residents and dissuade absentee owners.

— tauhid chappell, Philly.com, "Supreme Courts decision could affect Pennsylvania politics, two casinos open in Atlantic city | Morning Newsletter," 28 June 2018
The Board of Elections website also contains information about absentee voting.

— david anderson, The Aegis, "Harford voters still have lots at stake in Tuesday's primary election," 25 June 2018
About 65 studies are completed or under way looking at outcomes like work productivity, employee stress and absentee rates.

— sumathi reddy, WSJ, "From Meditation to Medication: Headspace Has a Prescription Strategy," 25 June 2018
Siddiqui credits a high level of community collaboration—between school administration, counselors, staff, teachers, county partners and parents — for the low absentee rate.

— jess nocera, Howard County Times, "Howard school absentee rate is lowest in Maryland," 22 June 2018
Swedish lawmakers approved the measure by a vote of 257-38 with 54 absentees.

— ryan gaydos, Fox News, "Swedish law says sex without explicit consent is rape," 25 May 2018
Oprah Winfrey and Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg are among the notable absentees.

— gregory krieg and tal yellin, CNN, "The 2020 Democratic primary, as a March Madness bracket," 15 Mar. 2018
Just this year, the Supreme Court unanimously reversed an appeals court decision that said District of Columbia police were wrong to arrest 21 people for trespassing at a boozy bachelor party with an absentee hostess.

— richard wolf, USA TODAY, "Will Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh deliver the change conservatives crave?," 10 July 2018
He was also scrutinized during an absentee-ballot investigation in 2013 but was never charged with a crime.

— sarah blaskey and david smiley, miamiherald, "Where does she live? A Miami lawmaker's bizarre attempt to reside in her district," 3 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'absentee.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of absentee

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 ¹absent

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1537

in the meaning defined above

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