missing person

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "missing person" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to refer to an individual who has disappeared and whose whereabouts are unknown, often in the context of law enforcement or media reports. Example: "The police have launched a search for the missing person last seen in the downtown area."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

The girl is considered a missing person.

The New York Times

She is officially a missing person.

The New York Times

There was some mystery behind it, some missing person.

The New Yorker

Mr. Browne said that the missing person was a woman.

The New York Times

His family filed a missing person report July 22.

The New York Times

At least I'd be a fit missing person.

The New York Times - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

The missing-person posters weighed heavily on our minds.

The New York Times

But there was no sign of Ai's missing-person poster.

The New Yorker

Whelan scanned the missing-person files, but without fingerprints or a face, the possibilities seemed endless.

The New York Times - Magazine

For a moment, we considered filing a missing-person report. .

Huffington Post

"So we started talking about a missing-person story".

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about a "missing person", always prioritize factual accuracy and sensitivity. Avoid speculation and rely on verified information from official sources.

Common error

Do not prematurely declare a "missing person" as deceased unless there is concrete evidence. Maintain hope and continue search efforts until definitive proof is available.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "missing person" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is used to identify an individual whose location is unknown, often in legal or journalistic contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Wiki

19%

Science

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "missing person" is a common and grammatically sound term used to describe an individual whose location is unknown. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used across various contexts, particularly in news, media, and legal domains. The phrase functions as a noun and serves to report or describe a disappearance, prompting action or investigation. While alternatives like "disappeared individual" or "lost individual" exist, "missing person" remains the standard and most frequently used term. Remember to prioritize accuracy and sensitivity when using the phrase, and avoid premature assumptions about the person's fate. The majority of examples come from authoritative news sources, which shows its importance in public discourse.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

disappeared individual

Replaces "missing" with "disappeared", focusing on the action of vanishing.

lost individual

Substitutes "missing" with "lost", suggesting being misplaced or unable to find one's way.

unaccounted for person

Emphasizes the lack of explanation for someone's whereabouts.

person who has vanished

Expands the phrase to a more descriptive clause, highlighting the act of disappearing.

individual whose whereabouts are unknown

A formal and detailed way to describe a missing person.

person gone astray

Implies the person may have deviated from an intended path or plan.

person reported missing

Highlights the formal act of reporting someone's disappearance.

the missing

A shortened, collective term for missing individuals.

person of interest in a disappearance

Highlights the person being investigated about the disappearance.

long lost person

It emphasizes that a lot of time passed from the disappearance.

FAQs

How to use "missing person" in a sentence?

You can use "missing person" to describe someone whose whereabouts are unknown, like in the sentence: "The police have launched a search for the "missing person" last seen downtown".

What can I say instead of "missing person"?

You can use alternatives like "disappeared individual", "lost individual", or "unaccounted for person" depending on the context.

When should I file a "missing person" report?

File a "missing person" report as soon as you have concerns about someone's well-being and their whereabouts are unknown. You don't need to wait a specific amount of time before reporting.

What information is needed to file a "missing person" report?

You will need to provide detailed information about the "missing person", including their name, age, physical description, last known location, and any relevant medical or personal history.