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

According to GlobalPost, he was tried in absentia for his cyber actions twice and sentenced to death both times. — Ben Taub, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026

The team was blessed in absentia by Pope Leo XIV and routinely wanded by the wizard. — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 9 Oct. 2026

Many of them have been sentenced in absentia for speaking about war crimes. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 9 Oct. 2026

Italy’s Constitutional Court ultimately cleared the way for the trial to proceed in absentia, allowing hearings to begin in Rome despite longstanding disputes over notification of the accused. — ABC News, 28 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin

First Known Use

1698, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for in absentia

• differentia
• essentia
• potentia
• rodentia

Legal Definition

in absentia

adverb

in ab·​sen·​tia ˌin-ab-ˈsen-chə 

: in absence

sentenced in absentia

Etymology

Latin