Absentee

Pronunciation

• US IPA: /ˌæb.sn̩ˈti/
• Rhymes: -iː

Origin

absent + -ee

Full definition of absentee

Noun

1. A person who is absent from his or her employment, school, post, duty, etc. First attested around 1350 to 1470.

1. (chiefly British, historical) A landholder who lives in another district or country than the one in which his estate is situated. First attested in the early 17^th century.
• 1840, George Byron, 6th Baron Byron, "Letter 374: to Mr. Moore (24 May 1820)," in The Works of Lord Byron: With His Letters and Journals, and His Life, John Murray (London), page 317: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!
2. One that is nonexistent or lacking.
3. A voter that is not present at the time of voting; absentee voter. First attested in the early 20^th century.

Related terms

• absenteeism

Adjective

1. (attributive) Pertaining to one that is absent. First attested in the mid 19^th century.