Definitions for absence
ˈæb sənsab·sence

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

1. absencenoun

   the state of being absent

   "he was surprised by the absence of any explanation"

2. absencenoun

   failure to be present

3. absencenoun

   the time interval during which something or somebody is away

   "he visited during my absence"

4. absence, absence seizurenoun

   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. absencenoun

   A state of being absent or withdrawn from a place or from companionship.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

   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. absencenoun

   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. absencenoun

   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. absencenoun

   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. Absencenoun

   a state of being absent or withdrawn from a place or from companionship; -- opposed to presence

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

2. Absencenoun

   want; destitution; withdrawal

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

3. Absencenoun

   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.

Matched Categories

1. • Lack
   • Nonattendance
   • Seizure
   • Time Interval

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

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

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. Chairman Billy Payne:

   While we learned last year that the absence of the Ike's Tree... did not impact scoring average on the hole, who knows what the future holds or what future chairmen might decide to do with these priceless specimens.

2. Louisa Degenhardt:

   There is a notable absence of high-quality evidence to properly assess the effectiveness and safety of medicinal cannabinoids ... and until evidence from randomized controlled trials is available, clinical guidelines cannot be drawn up around their use in mental health disorders.

3. Letitia Elizabeth Landon:

   The first love-letter is an epoch in love's happy season — it makes assurance doubly sure — that which has hitherto, perhaps, only found utterance in sweet and hurried words, now seems to take a more tangible existence. A love-letter is a proof of how dearly, even in absence, you are remembered.

4. Yanis Varoufakis:

   I was made aware of a certain ‘preference’ by some Eurogroup participants, and assorted ‘partners’, for my... ‘absence’ from its meetings; an idea that the Prime Minister judged to be potentially helpful to him in reaching an agreement.

5. Andy Leather:

   In the absence of surgical care, common, easily treatable illnesses become fatal, the global community can not continue to ignore this problem – millions of people are already dying unnecessarily, and the need... is projected to increase in the coming decades.

Images & Illustrations of absence

Popularity rank by frequency of use