in absentia

adverb

in ab·​sen·​tia ˌin-ab-ˈsen(t)-sh(ē-)ə How to pronounce in absentia (audio)
: in absence
gave him the award in absentia

Examples of in absentia in a Sentence

She was convicted of the crime in absentia.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In December 2023, U.S. prosecutors used a war crimes statute for the first time since it was enacted nearly three decades ago to charge four Russian soldiers in absentia with torturing an American who was living in the Kherson region of Ukraine. Glenn Thrush, New York Times, 17 Mar. 2025 Nineteen Israeli and five Thai hostages have been released so far, with 73 still in captivity, around half of whom have been declared dead in absentia by Israeli authorities. Nidal Al-Mughrabi, USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2025 But he was tried in absentia six times and convicted in each one. Marcos Alemán, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2025 Earlier this year, he was sentenced to more than eight years in prison in absentia under Russia’s wartime censorship laws. George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 31 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for in absentia

Word History

Etymology

Latin

First Known Use

1886, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of in absentia was in 1886

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“In absentia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20absentia. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

Legal Definition

in absentia

adverb
in ab·​sen·​tia ˌin-ab-ˈsen-chə How to pronounce in absentia (audio)
: in absence
sentenced in absentia
Etymology

Latin

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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