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   A state of being absent or withdrawn from a place or from companionship.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   a state of being absent or withdrawn from a place or from companionship; -- opposed to presence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. Luis Aguilar:

   By allowing corporate insiders to protect themselves from stock declines while retaining the opportunity to benefit from stock price appreciation, hedging transactions could permit individuals to receive incentive compensation, even where the company fails to perform and the stock value drops, in the absence of this proposed disclosure, shareholders may not be aware of the executive officers' and directors' true economic exposure to the company's equity.

2. Author Unknown:

   Courage is not the absence of fear, but the conquest of it.

3. Heidi Hemmat:

   Society has changed. People have changed. My physical and mental health were unraveling. As soon as that ratings period ended I took an unpaid leave of absence, and in August I asked to be let out of my contract.

4. Mark Twain:

   Describing her first day back in grade school after a long absence, a teacher said, It was like trying to hold 35 corks under water at the same time.

5. Sujit Choudhry:

   I will immediately begin a leave of absence as Dean of Berkeley Law, in order to ensure that this lawsuit does not become a distraction for the Law School, the University, and our community.

Images & Illustrations of absence

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