notable absence

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "notable absence" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It means an obvious or significant lack of something or someone. Example: The graduation ceremony was filled with speeches from notable alumni, but the notable absence of the university president was noted by many attendees.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

The most notable absence?

The Guardian - Sport

One notable absence?

The New York Times - Sports

One notable absence at the screening was von Trier himself.

The Guardian - Film

One notable absence at the conference was @MajorlyProfound.

The New York Times

7.59am GMT Harriet Sherwood says there is a notable absence of foreign bigwigs at the funeral.

The Guardian

There was one notable absence in his speech: Franken did not apologize.

The New Yorker

The most notable absence will be Edward Herrmann, who passed away in 2014.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

George E. Pataki, the most recent Republican governor of New York, was a notable absence.

The New York Times

As the parties gathered for the Griffiths hearing, there was a new notable absence.

The Guardian

The Time Traveler's Wife is a notable absence from The Time Traveler's Almanac.

The Guardian - Books

One notable absence at the sale was Christopher Burge, the longtime Christie's auctioneer.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "notable absence" to emphasize the importance of what is missing, rather than merely stating that something is not present. For greater impact, follow it with an explanation of the consequences or implications of this absence.

Common error

Avoid using "notable absence" when the missing item is not significant or expected. Overusing it dilutes its impact; reserve it for situations where the absence genuinely matters.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "notable absence" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies and emphasizes the significance of something or someone being missing. Ludwig confirms this common usage through its numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

36%

Formal & Business

27%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "notable absence" is a grammatically correct and frequently used noun phrase, indicating a significant lack of something or someone. Ludwig AI confirms this, providing numerous real-world examples from sources spanning News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts. While synonyms like "conspicuous absence" or "significant omission" can be used, "notable absence" is most impactful when emphasizing the consequences of what's missing. Writers should avoid using it in trivial situations to maintain its effectiveness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

conspicuous absence

Emphasizes the obviousness and visibility of the absence.

significant omission

Highlights the act of leaving something out that matters.

striking lack

Focuses on the surprising or remarkable deficiency of something.

marked non-attendance

Specifically refers to someone's failure to be present, which is clearly noticeable.

glaring void

Emphasizes the emptiness or missing quality of something.

palpable deficiency

Indicates that the lack is easily sensed or felt.

evident non-existence

Stresses the clear and undeniable absence of something.

remarkable exclusion

Highlights that something has been left out in a way that is noteworthy.

obvious deletion

Focuses on the clear and apparent removal or deletion of something.

noticeable exclusion

Focuses on the easy to notice nature of something having been left out.

FAQs

How can I use "notable absence" in a sentence?

The phrase "notable absence" is used to highlight the significant lack of something or someone. For example: "The "conspicuous absence" of key data hampered the investigation."

What's a less formal way to say "notable absence"?

While "notable absence" is suitable for formal contexts, you could use "obvious miss" or "clear lack" in more informal settings.

Which is correct: "a notable absence" or "the notable absence"?

Both are correct, depending on the context. "A notable absence" refers to one specific instance, while "the notable absence" refers to a general or already specified absence.

What words are similar to "notable" in the context of "notable absence"?

In this context, "notable" can be replaced with synonyms like "significant", "conspicuous", or "remarkable" to emphasize the importance or visibility of the absence. Consider using phrases like "significant absence", "conspicuous absence", or "remarkable absence".