absent without leave

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "absent without leave" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in military or formal contexts to describe someone who is not present without permission. Example: "The soldier was marked as absent without leave after failing to report for duty."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

They are typically druggies or go AWOL (Absent WithOut Leave).

WikiHow

The defence secretary's brain has gone absent without leave.

The Guardian - Opinion

Remarkably, President Obama has once more been absent without leave.

The Washington Post

"The US is no longer absent without leave," she said.

The Guardian

Some soldiers began to go absent without leave.

The New Yorker

After deployment, Mr. Bunn, suicidal and haunted by nightmares, went absent without leave.

The New York Times

But the war hero trumps the national guardsman who went absent without leave.

The Guardian

Again and again, on key international issues, David Cameron has been absent without leave.

The Guardian - Opinion

Owing to their being absent without leave, both have been suspended with effect from June 1".

The Guardian

We would be on the lam, playing hooky, leaving at intermission, absent without leave.

The New York Times - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Republicans like to loudly proclaim such support, but when it comes to voting for it, they are often absent-without-leave.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about military or formal situations, use "absent without leave" to clearly indicate unauthorized absence from duty.

Common error

Don't confuse "absent without leave" with desertion. AWOL typically implies an intent to return, while desertion indicates a permanent abandonment of duty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "absent without leave" functions primarily as an adjective phrase modifying a noun (usually a person) to indicate they are away from their duty station without permission. Ludwig confirms this usage through numerous examples, primarily in news and military contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

17%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "absent without leave" is a phrase primarily used in military and formal settings to denote an unauthorized absence from duty. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and commonly used in news, wiki and business contexts. While often abbreviated as "AWOL", it's important not to confuse it with desertion, which implies a permanent abandonment of duty. When using the phrase "absent without leave", remember it carries a formal tone, and consider alternative phrasing for less formal situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

awol

This alternative is an acronym for "absent without leave" and is also commonly used in military contexts.

off without leave

This alternative emphasizes the lack of permission for the absence.

unauthorized absence

This alternative is a more general term for being away without permission, not specific to military contexts.

unexcused absence

This alternative is a more neutral term for being absent without a valid reason.

unaccounted for

This alternative suggests that someone's location is unknown and unexplained.

missing in action

This alternative implies a more serious situation, often in combat, where the person's whereabouts are unknown.

dereliction of duty

This alternative refers to the failure to fulfill one's responsibilities, which can include unauthorized absence.

gone astray

This alternative implies someone has deviated from the expected path or location, often without permission.

truant

This alternative is typically used for students who are absent from school without permission.

playing hooky

This alternative is an informal way of saying someone is skipping school or work without permission.

FAQs

What does "absent without leave" mean?

The term "absent without leave" refers to a military term, for when a service member is away from their assigned post without official permission. It's also known as "AWOL".

What are the consequences of being "absent without leave"?

The consequences for being "absent without leave" can vary, ranging from a military court martial with punishments such as confinement, loss of pay, or demotion. The length of absence and circumstances of the situation will heavily influence the decision.

How does "absent without leave" differ from desertion?

"Absent without leave" typically implies the service member intends to return to duty eventually. However, desertion involves intending to permanently abandon one's post. After 30 days of being "AWOL", a service member is classified as a deserter.

What's a less formal way to say "absent without leave"?

In a less formal context, you could say someone is having an "unauthorized absence", "playing hooky", or just "missing", depending on the situation.