absentee
UK: /ˌæbsənˈtiː/ | US: /ˌæbsənˈtiː/
n. a person who is absent, especially from work, school, or a place they are expected to be
n. (Law) a property owner who does not reside on or use the property
The word "absentee" combines "absent," derived from Latin absens (meaning "away" or "not present"), with the suffix "-ee," borrowed from Old French -é (indicating a person affected by an action). Originally used in legal contexts (e.g., landowners living elsewhere), it later broadened to describe anyone habitually absent. The "-ee" suffix often implies passivity (e.g., "employee," "refugee"), but here it simply denotes the person characterized by absence.
The teacher marked him as an absentee after he missed three classes.
The company tracks absentee rates to improve workforce management.
The estate was managed by an agent for the absentee landlord.
High absenteeism in the factory led to production delays.
The new policy penalizes chronic absentees with reduced benefits.