1. (noun)absence the state of being absent "he was surprised by the absence of any explanation"
2. (noun)absence failure to be present
3. (noun)absence the time interval during which something or somebody is away "he visited during my absence"
4. (noun)absence, absence seizure the occurrence of an abrupt, transient loss or impairment of consciousness (which is not subsequently remembered), sometimes with light twitching, fluttering eyelids, etc.; common in petit mal epilepsy