in absentia
adverb
in ab·sen·tia
ˌin-ab-ˈsen(t)-sh(ē-)ə 
: in absence
gave them the award in absentia
Examples of in absentia in a Sentence
She was convicted of the crime in absentia.
Recent Examples on the Web
Bormann was sentenced to death in absentia during the Nuremberg Trials.
—
Solly Boussidan, FOXNews.com, 18 Jan. 2026
Panahi has consistently taken the risk and he’s been penalized and imprisoned many times for his work, spending years in prison; but this film is on another level (he was even sentenced in absentia for it).
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026
In November, Hasina was sentenced to death in absentia for her deadly crackdown on the student protests.
—Reuters, NBC news, 30 Dec. 2025
The number of in absentia removals was generally already on an upward trend each year since 2022, said Andrew Arthur, resident law and policy fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies, a nonprofit that advocates for lower levels of migration.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 22 Dec. 2025
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Solly Boussidan, FOXNews.com, 18 Jan. 2026
Panahi has consistently taken the risk and he’s been penalized and imprisoned many times for his work, spending years in prison; but this film is on another level (he was even sentenced in absentia for it).
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026
In November, Hasina was sentenced to death in absentia for her deadly crackdown on the student protests.
—Reuters, NBC news, 30 Dec. 2025
The number of in absentia removals was generally already on an upward trend each year since 2022, said Andrew Arthur, resident law and policy fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies, a nonprofit that advocates for lower levels of migration.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for in absentia
Cite this Entry
“In absentia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20absentia. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
in absentia
adverb
in ab·sen·tia
ˌin-ab-ˈsen-chə
: in absence
sentenced in absentia
Etymology
Latin
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