Definition of truant
: one who shirks duty; especially : one who stays out of school without permission
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Examples of truant in a Sentence
an increasing number of truants
Recent Examples of truant from the Web
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Getzlaf was joined by Rickard Rakell as five Flames poured out of the bench to replace the truants.
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When the truant offered a letter from a relative of a government minister pleading for leniency, Mr. Mishra grabbed it and, with a frown, tore it in half and dropped it to the floor.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'truant.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of truant
Middle English, vagabond, idler, from Anglo-French, of Celt origin; akin to Old Irish trógán wretch, trúag wretched
Other Education Terms
truant
Definition of truant
1 : shirking responsibility
2 : being, resembling, or characteristic of a truant
Recent Examples of truant from the Web
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Anderson received court supervision in 2014 after pleading guilty to a delinquency charge in a case that involved inappropriate text messages and having truant students in her home, court records state.
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Montgomery was playing hooky from school and Hurt was on truant patrol.
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The bill would allow cuts when enrolled students are frequently truant.
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The President made good on his threat, fired the truant eleven thousand three hundred and forty-five controllers, and banned them from federal employment for life.
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Yet another is to create personalized learning plans for every high-need student, especially foster and truant youths, who tend to be disproportionately African-American.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'truant.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of truant
1561
truant
Definition of truant
intransitive verb
: to idle away time especially while playing truant
First Known Use of truant
1580
TRUANT Defined for English Language Learners
truant
playDefinition of truant for English Language Learners
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: a student who misses school without permission
TRUANT Defined for Kids
truant
playDefinition of truant for Students
1 : a student who stays out of school without permission
2 : a person who neglects his or her duty
Learn More about truant
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See words that rhyme with truant Spanish Central: Translation of truant Nglish: Translation of truant for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of truant for Arabic speakers
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