absenteeism

noun

ab·​sen·​tee·​ism ˌab-sən-ˈtē-ˌi-zəm 

1

: chronic absence (as from work or school)

also : the rate of such absence

2

: prolonged absence from a property by its owner or proprietor

Examples of absenteeism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The payments follow weeks of disruption during the partial DHS shutdown, which left roughly 50,000 TSA officers working without pay and contributed to widespread airport delays, high absenteeism and staffing shortages. —Nicole Sganga, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026

The absenteeism, the impact that can have. —Emily Brindley health Reporter, Dallas Morning News, 30 Mar. 2026

At Sabrina Garments, for example, absenteeism hovers at 1 percent, a rarity for Cambodia’s garment sector, managers said. —Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 26 Mar. 2026

While staffing levels in Austin have largely held steady, the broader strain on the agency has been evident nationally, with higher-than-normal absenteeism and hundreds of officers leaving since the shutdown began in mid-February. —Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 19 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

absentee + -ism

First Known Use

1829, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for absenteeism

• deism
• theism