# absentee

/ˌæbsənˈti/ (US) · /ˌæbsəntˈiː/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/absentee
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

a person who is not present at a place where they are expected to be, like a school or a meeting. It is often used in official reports to count how many people are missing.

For teachers: a person who is absent from a place or event, especially one where attendance is expected or required. Often used in administrative or legal contexts to refer to students, employees, or voters.

## Examples

- The teacher marked three students as absentees today.
- The manager noted that the number of absentees has increased since the new office policy was introduced.
- The final vote count was delayed because the committee had to wait for the arrival of several absentee ballots from citizens living abroad.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used in the phrase 'absentee ballot' or 'absentee voter' in political contexts.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.