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 most common type of violation clerks referred to prosecutors was double voting, or a person voting absentee and at the polls on Election Day. —Molly Beck, jsonline.com, 20 Nov. 2025

The glaring absentees at this stage are Italy. —Phil Hay, New York Times, 19 Nov. 2025

The district has also voiced concerns about the school’s high chronic absentee and suspension rates, which each put the school in the red category of California’s school accountability system. —Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 8 Nov. 2025

Voting records show Vance voted absentee, which can mean a person voted early or by mail. —Janelle Griffith, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025

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