What does "absentee" mean?
A person who is absent from his or her employment, school, post, duty, etc.
Absentee
/ˌæb.sn̩ˈti/ noun
noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A person who is absent from his or her employment, school, post, duty, etc.
- Grammar: absentee is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: absent, absent elector, absentee voter, absentees.
- Useful contrasts: attend informally, attendee, attender.
- Usage evidence: You can vote by absentee ballot.
How to use "absentee"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "absentee" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "absentee" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "absentee" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "absentee" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "absentee" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "absent" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "absentee", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A person who is absent from his or her employment, school, post, duty, etc.
"At roll-call there were three absentees."
- 2 one that is absent or not in residence wordnet
- 3 A person who is absent from his or her employment, school, post, duty, etc.; Designating a person absent in a particular capacity, sometimes implying that they are difficult to contact, unresponsive, avoiding their responsibilities, etc. attributive
"absentee father; absentee landlord; absentee freeholder"
- 4 A person who is absent from his or her employment, school, post, duty, etc.; A person who is absent from their residence and usual environment, and has not been seen or heard from for some period of time, so that it is unknown whether they are still alive, for the purpose of civil law dealing with the management of property etc. in such cases.
- 5 Something that is not present where it might be expected.
"The manufacturer's promised new model was a notable absentee at the car show."
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 Designating something whose owner, person responsible, etc. is absent. attributive
"absentee ballot, absentee property"
- 7 A landholder who lives in another district or country than the one in which his estate is situated. British, historical
"My trustees are going to lend Earl Blessington sixty thousand pounds (at six per cent.) on a Dublin mortgage. Only think of my becoming an Irish absentee!"
- 8 A voter who is not present at the time of voting; absentee voter.
"In recent primaries, for example, nearly 4% of absentees were rejected in Philadelphia; 8% in Kentucky; and 20% in parts of New York City."
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"You can vote by absentee ballot."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "absentee"?
Common synonyms include: absent, absent elector, absentee voter, absentees, away, deserter.
How do you use "absentee" in a sentence?
You can vote by absentee ballot.
How do you pronounce "absentee"?
Pronounced /ˌæb.sn̩ˈti/.
Etymology
From absent + -ee.