absentee

noun

ab·​sen·​tee ˌab-sən-ˈtē How to pronounce absentee (audio)
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Is God Is is a story about twin sisters Racine (Kara Young) and Anaia (Mallori Johnson), tasked with killing their abusive, absentee father at the request of their mother. Mya Abraham, VIBE.com, 19 May 2026 The Lake County Board of Elections and Registration reviewed more than two dozen provisional ballots and absentee vote-by-mail ballots with mismatched signatures to determine if they should be accepted or rejected at its Thursday meeting. Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2026 Ballots are sent to absentee voters, including military members serving overseas, six weeks before an election, which requires ballots to be finalized eight weeks before polls open. Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 13 May 2026 That comes even as some absentee and overseas military ballots already have been cast. ABC News, 12 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for absentee

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of absentee was in 1537

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Absentee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/absentee. Accessed 21 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

absentee

noun
ab·​sen·​tee ˌab-sən-ˈtē How to pronounce absentee (audio)
: a person who is absent
absentee adjective

Legal Definition

absentee

noun
ab·​sen·​tee ˌab-sən-ˈtē How to pronounce absentee (audio)
: 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

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