Definitions for absence
ˈæb sənsab·sence

Princeton's WordNet(1.33 / 6 votes)Rate this definition:

1. absence(noun)

   the state of being absent

   "he was surprised by the absence of any explanation"

2. absence(noun)

   failure to be present

3. absence(noun)

   the time interval during which something or somebody is away

   "he visited during my absence"

4. absence, absence seizure(noun)

   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

Wiktionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. absence(Noun)

   A state of being absent or withdrawn from a place or from companionship.

   Etymology: From absent, from absentia, from absens, present active participle of absum, from ab + sum.

2. absence(Noun)

   Failure to be present where one is expected, wanted, or needed; nonattendence; deficiency.

   Etymology: From absent, from absentia, from absens, present active participle of absum, from ab + sum.

3. absence(Noun)

   Inattention to things present; abstraction (of mind)

   absence of mind.

   Etymology: From absent, from absentia, from absens, present active participle of absum, from ab + sum.

4. absence(Noun)

   Temporary lossor disruption of consciousness, with sudden onset and recovery, and common in epilepsy.

   Etymology: From absent, from absentia, from absens, present active participle of absum, from ab + sum.

5. absence(Noun)

   Lack of contact between blades.

   Etymology: From absent, from absentia, from absens, present active participle of absum, from ab + sum.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Absence(noun)

   a state of being absent or withdrawn from a place or from companionship; -- opposed to presence

   Etymology: [F., fr. L. absentia. See Absent.]

2. Absence(noun)

   want; destitution; withdrawal

   Etymology: [F., fr. L. absentia. See Absent.]

3. Absence(noun)

   inattention to things present; abstraction (of mind); as, absence of mind

   Etymology: [F., fr. L. absentia. See Absent.]

Dictionary of Nautical Terms(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. absence

   A permission occasionally obtained, on urgent affairs, by officers to quit their duties.

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'absence' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #1745

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'absence' in Written Corpus Frequency: #4745

3. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'absence' in Nouns Frequency: #779

How to pronounce absence?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

How to say absence in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of absence in Chaldean Numerology is: 6

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of absence in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

Examples of absence in a Sentence

1. David Karol:

   The absence of most of the governors this late in the process really indicates the paralysis and division in Republican elite circles.

2. Jawaharlal Nehru:

   Peace is not a relationship of nations. It is a condition of mind brought about by a serenity of soul. Peace is not merely the absence of war. It is also a state of mind. Lasting peace can come only to peaceful people.

3. Janvier Chouteu-Chando:

   No true...father would be unconcerned about discord in his family that may cause it to disintegrate in his absence... ”

4. Elizabeth Bowen:

   The heart may think it knows better: the senses know that absence blots people out. We really have no absent friends. The friend becomes a traitor by breaking, however unwillingly or sadly, out of our own zone: a hard judgment is passed on him, for all the pleas of the heart.

5. Chief Executive Reinhard Ploss:

   The business environment in our markets is bottoming, the inventory correction is playing out, but given the absence of macro improvement, recovery will take more time.

Images & Illustrations of absence

Popularity rank by frequency of use