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

The swerve comes when Lilian learns that the absentee client — a beautiful, troubled woman named Paula (Virginie Efira, seen in flashbacks) — died suddenly. —Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026

That’s on top of Chelsea still missing long-term injury absentees Levi Colwill (knee) and Romeo Lavia (thigh). —Simon Johnson, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026

Other states with no-excuse absentee voting have also seen their participation rates go up. —Coalition, Hartford Courant, 11 Jan. 2026

In one afternoon, the prevailing stereotypes of underachieving Black boys and absentee Black fathers were irrelevant. —Walter Fields, Baltimore Sun, 10 Jan. 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