missing in action
adjective
: missing and unable to be confirmed as captured or killed following military action
a soldier who was declared missing in action
The 1st Cavalry Division casualties in Operation PERSHING totalled 852 troopers killed in action, 22 missing in action, 286 killed in noncombat circumstances …—
Shelby L. Stanton
—often used figuratively for someone or something notably or unexpectedly missing, absent, or inactiveShelby L. StantonMost readers expect an encyclopedia to give the judgment of scholars—a group largely missing in action here.—Julia Vitullo-Martin
Julia Vitullo-MartinThe movie itself has just resurfaced after having been missing in action for some time.—Video Review
Video ReviewBut lots of hair had turned gray (my own included); lots more was missing in action.—Joseph Epstein
Joseph EpsteinExamples of missing in action in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Reese’s Marshmallow first debuted in 2006 but has been missing in action for almost two decades.
—Joseph Erbentraut, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Mar. 2026
Pakistan put its own military figures at 12 killed, 27 wounded and one soldier missing in action.
—Munir Ahmed, Arkansas Online, 1 Mar. 2026
One Pakistani soldier was missing in action.
—Munir Ahmed, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026
The Kenyan government last week said more than 1,000 Kenyans were recruited to fight for Russia in Ukraine and that at least 89 Kenyans were still on the front line, 39 were hospitalized, 28 were missing in action, and others had returned home.
—ABC News, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for missing in action
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Joseph Erbentraut, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Mar. 2026
Pakistan put its own military figures at 12 killed, 27 wounded and one soldier missing in action.
—Munir Ahmed, Arkansas Online, 1 Mar. 2026
One Pakistani soldier was missing in action.
—Munir Ahmed, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026
The Kenyan government last week said more than 1,000 Kenyans were recruited to fight for Russia in Ukraine and that at least 89 Kenyans were still on the front line, 39 were hospitalized, 28 were missing in action, and others had returned home.
—ABC News, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for missing in action
Cite this Entry
“Missing in action.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/missing%20in%20action. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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