# disappearance

/ˌdɪsəˈpiɹəns/ (US) · /dˌɪsɐpˈiəɹəns/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/disappearance
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. vanishing from sight

noun · CEFR B2

the moment when something or someone goes away and you can no longer see them.

For teachers: the act of passing out of sight or vanishing from a specific location.

- The sudden disappearance of the sun behind the clouds made the park feel cold.
- The magician's act relied on the seamless disappearance of a large bird from a cage that remained in full view of the audience.

### 2. missing person

noun · CEFR B2

when a person goes missing and nobody knows where they are.

For teachers: the state of a person being missing, often under mysterious or unexplained circumstances.

- The police are still investigating the mysterious disappearance of the hiker.
- The sudden disappearance of the witness just days before the trial raised serious concerns about the safety of the remaining participants.

### 3. ceasing to exist

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

when something stops existing or being used.

For teachers: the complete cessation of existence or the end of a particular phenomenon or species.

- The disappearance of these rare plants is caused by changes in the weather.
- Environmentalists warned that the disappearance of these wetlands would lead to a catastrophic loss of biodiversity in the region.

## Examples

- The sudden disappearance of my keys is very frustrating.
- Police are still investigating the mysterious disappearance of the hiker who vanished from the trail last Tuesday.
- The rapid disappearance of traditional wetlands has led to a significant decline in local bird populations, prompting urgent calls for environmental protection.

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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.