▸ noun the state of being away from a place or person:
the letter had arrived during his absence
I supervised the rehearsal in the absence of the director.
▪ an occasion or period of being away from a place or person:
repeated absences from school.
▪ (absence of) the nonexistence or lack of:
she found his total absence of facial expression disconcerting.
– ORIGIN late Middle English : from Old French, from Latin absentia, from absens, absent- (see absent).