absentees

Noun

absentee (plural absentees)

1. A person who is absent from his or her employment, school, post, duty, etc.
   • At roll-call there were three absentees.

   Synonyms:

   no-show

   1. (attributive) Designating a person absent in a particular capacity, sometimes implying that they are difficult to contact, unresponsive, avoiding their responsibilities, etc.
      • absentee father; absentee landlord; absentee freeholder
   2. 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.
2. Something that is not present where it might be expected.
   • The manufacturer's promised new model was a notable absentee at the car show.
3. (attributive) Designating something whose owner, person responsible, etc. is absent.
   • absentee ballot, absentee property
4. (UK, historical) A landholder who lives in another district or country than the one in which his estate is situated.
   • 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!1840, Lord Byron, “Letter 374: to Mr. Moore (24 May 1820)”, in John Murray, editor, The Works of Lord Byron: With His Letters and Journals, and His Life, page 317

See all 7 meanings of absentee