absentee

noun

ab·​sen·​tee ˌab-sən-ˈtē 

: one that is absent: such as

a

: a proprietor that lives away from his or her estate or business

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

Key Background Main-in voting has long been available for people who will be out of their home state on Election Day, called absentee voting, but the practice widely expanded during the COVID pandemic. —Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025

Republican legislators across the country passed no-excuse absentee voting laws to encourage their voters to cast their votes early. —Mary Ellen Klas, Twin Cities, 21 Aug. 2025

Twenty-eight states allow all voters to cast ballots by mail, while every state offers some form of mail-in or absentee voting. —Daniel Orton, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Aug. 2025

It had been battered by drought, underinvestment and absentee ownership. —Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 31 July 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