Absence is most often used for not being presentthere or existing in a place, meeting, or situation, or for the period when someone is away. It can also mean a lacka shortage or missing amount of something needed of something, or in medicine, a brief loss of consciousnessthe state of being awake and aware of surroundings.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈæbsəns/
Easy pronunciation: AB-səns (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the first syllable: AB-sens.
Primary sense: failure to be present.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Absence Meaning
not being somewhere or taking part when expected
Part of speech: noun
Definition: failure to be present
Example: Her absence from the meeting was noticed immediately.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- nonattendance — Works in formal contexts for not attending.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Absence
Meaning 2
the condition of not being there or not being available
Part of speech: noun
Definition: the state of being absent
Example: He was surprised by the absence of any explanation.
Meaning 3
the period when someone is away
Part of speech: noun
Definition: the time interval during which something or somebody is away
Example: He visited during my absence.
Meaning 4
a brief blackout or seizure, usually with no memory of it afterward
Part of speech: noun
Definition: 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
Example: The doctor said the child’s episodes were absence seizures.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- absence seizure — Medical term for this specific seizure type.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Absence Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- nonattendance
brief medical loss of consciousness
- absence seizure
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Mixing up absence meaning 'not present' with the medical term absence seizure.
- Using absence to mean 'presence' or 'arrival' — it is the opposite.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does absence mean in everyday English?
In everyday English, absence usually means not being present, or the period when someone is away.
Is absence the same as lack?
Not exactly. Absence can mean a lack of something in some contexts, but it more often refers to not being present or the time someone is away.
What is the medical meaning of absence?
In medicine, absence can refer to a brief seizure or loss of consciousness, often called an absence seizure.
What is a common synonym for absence?
For the everyday meaning, a close synonym is nonattendance in formal use. For the medical sense, absence seizure is the exact term.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
