no-show

[ noh-shoh ]

noun

1. a person who makes a reservation and neither uses nor cancels it.
2. a person who purchases an admission ticket and doesn't use it.
3. any absentee.

adjective

1. not appearing as scheduled or expected.

no-show

noun

1. a person who fails to take up a reserved seat, place, etc, without having cancelled it

Word History and Origins

Origin of no-show¹

An Americanism dating back to 1940–45; no ² + show

Example Sentences

She was a no-show for the latest city council meeting on Oct.

From Los Angeles Times

Jones noted in a short conversation with Salon ahead of his question-and-answer time that the no-show was part of a "pattern of behavior" but didn’t care to elaborate.

From Salon

The 10-time Grammy Award winner was scheduled to perform Wednesday in Columbus, Ohio, but broke the news of his no-show a day ahead of time.

From Los Angeles Times

On the level of plot that may be true, but on the level of meaning everything changes for theatergoers who watch Vladimir and Estragon passing the time as they wait for the mysterious no-show Godot.

From Los Angeles Times

I was reminded of his 2016 no-show rally and near-riot at the University of Illinois at Chicago, an important portent of the way so-called political norms would be shattered during his rise to power.

From Salon

Related Words

• away
• missing
• removed
• vanished