OpenSynonym

absence

/ˈæbsəns/

NOUN

1. The state of being away from a place

The condition or period of being away from a particular place, person, or group, especially when presence is expected.

1.1. Not being physically present

The state of being away from a place where someone is normally expected, such as a workplace, school, meeting, or home.

Synonyms

  • nonattendance
  • nonappearance
  • absence from duty
  • being away
  • absence from school

Antonyms

Examples

  • Her absence from the meeting was noticed by everyone.
  • The teacher recorded his absence from school.
  • Repeated absence from work may affect an employee's performance.

Related Words

1.2. Unauthorized or unexplained absence

Failure to attend school, work, or an assigned duty, particularly without permission or a valid explanation.

Synonyms

  • absenteeism
  • truancy
  • AWOL
  • French leave
  • nonattendance

Antonyms

Examples

  • Chronic absenteeism can negatively affect a student's academic progress.
  • The employee's repeated absence without permission resulted in disciplinary action.

Related Words

  • absentee
  • school attendance
  • work attendance
  • unauthorized leave
  • dereliction

NOUN

2. Lack or nonexistence of something

The state of not having something that is expected, needed, or normally present.

2.1. Lack of something necessary or desirable

The condition of having too little or none of something required, useful, or desirable.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Examples

  • In the absence of evidence, the court dismissed the case.
  • The absence of clean water remains a serious problem in the region.
  • The project failed because of an absence of adequate funding.

Related Words

2.2. Missing qualities or characteristics

The condition of lacking a particular quality, feature, element, or characteristic that would normally be expected.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Examples

  • The absence of emotion in his voice made the announcement seem impersonal.
  • The design was criticized for its absence of originality.
  • The absence of clear instructions caused confusion among the participants.

Related Words

2.3. Nonexistence or unavailability

The state of something not existing, being unavailable, or not being present in a particular place or situation.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Examples

  • The absence of reliable records made it difficult to verify the claim.
  • The absence of a suitable alternative delayed the project.
  • The report highlighted the absence of proper safety equipment.

Related Words

NOUN

3. Inattention or mental distraction

A state of being mentally distracted or unaware of one's immediate surroundings because one's thoughts are elsewhere.

3.1. Being mentally preoccupied

A condition in which someone is inattentive to their surroundings because their mind is occupied with other thoughts.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Examples

  • His absence of mind caused him to forget the appointment.
  • She answered the question with an air of absence, clearly thinking about something else.

Related Words

NOUN

4. A temporary interruption of consciousness

A brief episode of impaired or lost awareness, typically involving a sudden onset and recovery, and sometimes associated with epilepsy.

4.1. Brief loss of consciousness

A short episode in which a person becomes temporarily unaware of their surroundings, commonly associated with an absence seizure.

Synonyms

  • absence seizure
  • petit mal seizure

Examples

  • The child experienced an absence seizure during the lesson.
  • The neurologist explained that these brief episodes of absence could be a form of seizure.

Related Words

  • epilepsy
  • seizure
  • consciousness
  • awareness
  • neurological episode