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absence

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absence

  • /ˈæb.s(ə)n̩s/ UK
  • /ˈæb.s(ə)n̩ts/ UK
  • /ˈæb.s(ə)n̩s/ US
  • /ˈæb.sn̩ts/ US
  • /ˈæbsɒns/ US
  • /æbˈsɒns/ US

Rhymes with (in the medical sense) -ɒns

Where it comes from

From Middle English absence, from Old French absence, ausence, from Latin absentia, from absēns (“absent”), present active participle of absum (“to be away or absent”), from ab (“from, away from”) + sum (“to be”).

noun absences · abs.

  1. uncountable, usually A state of being away or withdrawn from a place or from companionship Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

    Similar: absentia

  2. uncountable, usually The period of someone being away. During Jane's absence, Mark will be taking charge.

    Similar: absentia

  3. uncountable, usually Failure to be present where one is expected, wanted, or needed; nonattendance; deficiency. Harry Kane was an absence in that first half. He touched the ball 11 times despite Spurs taking 62% of possession.
  4. uncountable, usually Lack; deficiency; non-existence. He had an absence of enthusiasm.
  5. uncountable, usually Inattention to things present; abstraction (of mind). absence of mind
  6. uncountable, usually Temporary loss or disruption of consciousness, with sudden onset and recovery, and common in epilepsy.
  7. uncountable, usually Lack of contact between blades.

Similar: missingness · Opposite: presence, existence, possession, sufficiency

Thesaurus

Closest in meaning: absent, absentee, absenteeism, missing, omission, default, denial, fail, failure, lack, deficit, shortage, freedom, insufficiency, insufficient, deficiency

noun

Similar: missingness · Opposite: presence, existence, possession, sufficiency

Translations

Every language

noun state of being away

Españolausencia, absencia (disused)
한국어결석 gyeolseok, 부재 bujae
日本語欠席 kesseki, 不在 fuzai
中文缺席 quēxí, 不在 bùzài
हिन्दीअनुपस्थिति anupasthiti
Portuguêsausência
Françaisabsence
DeutschAbwesenheit, Absenz
Italianoassenza
Ελληνικάαπουσία apousía
Românăabsență
Русскийотсу́тствие otsútstvije, отлу́чка otlúčka
العربيةغِيَاب ḡiyāb
עבריתהֵעָדֵר he'adér

noun failure to be present where one is expected

Españolabsencia (disused)
Portuguêsfalta
Italianomancanza

noun lack; deficiency; non-existence

Españolausencia, falta, absencia (disused)
日本語欠落 ketsuraku, 不保持 fuhoji
Portuguêsausência, falta
Françaisabsence, manque
DeutschAbwesenheit, Fehlen
Italianoassenza, mancanza, difetto
Românăabsență
Русскийотсу́тствие otsútstvije, нехва́тка nexvátka, недоста́ток nedostátok

noun inattention to things present

Españolausencia, absencia (disused)
日本語無頓着 mutonchaku
Portuguêsfalta de atenção
Françaisabsence
DeutschAbwesenheit
Românăneatenție
Русскийрассе́янность rasséjannostʹ

noun medical: temporary loss or disruption of consciousness

DeutschAbsence
Italianoassenza

noun fencing: lack of contact between blades

Españolausencia de hierro, ausencia
Portuguêsausência, ausência de ferro
Françaisabsence, absence du fer
Italianoinvito aperto, ferro libero

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Cite this
MLA

"absence." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/absence. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

absence. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/absence

Chicago

"absence." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/absence.

BibTeX
@misc{absence_2026,
  title = {absence},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/absence},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}