Distinguishing Between Absent & Absence

Absent is an English word used to describe something or someone who is not present or missing. On the other hand, absence refers to the state of being absent. Many English language learners find it challenging to choose the correct word between absent and absence when speaking and writing English. This article aims to clarify the difference between absent and absence by providing clear examples.

Key Takeaways

• Absent is an antonym of present and is an adjective.
• Absence is the state of being away or the duration when one is not present, and it is a noun.
• While both words indicate a lack or missing quality, absent is used for a person or feature, and absence is used for a state or time period.

Absent

Absent is a word that is the opposite of present, meaning if someone is not present or is missing, they are said to be absent. It can also refer to a quality or feature that may be lacking or missing in a gadget or even a person. Additionally, absent can describe someone as absent-minded when they may be present in a place, like a class, but may be inattentive. The origin of the word absent dates back to 1350-1400 AD from the Latin word that means to be away or not being present. Consider the following examples:

• Ed was absent from the school because of fever.
• Ron absented himself from the choir.
• Helen had an absent look at her face.
• This is a trait or gene present in mammals but absent in birds.

Absence

Absence can refer to both the state of being away and the duration when one is not present. It also indicates a quality or trait lacking in a person. Additionally, absence can describe a state of mind when a person is described as absent-minded, meaning they are not attentive. When discussing the time period, absence is the time when someone or something is not present. Consider the following examples:

• His absence was noted by most people.
• John was conspicuous by his absence.
• There was the absence of leadership qualities in the newly appointed captain of the team.

Difference Between Absent and Absence

• Absent is the opposite of present and is an adjective, while absence is the state of being absent and is a noun.
• Absent is used to describe a person or feature that is not present or missing, whereas absence refers to the state or time period when someone or something is not present.