truant

[ troo-uhnt ]

noun

1. a student who stays away from school without permission.
2. a person who shirks or neglects a duty.

   Synonyms: malingerer, loafer, layabout, shirker, idler

adjective

1. absent from school without permission.
2. neglectful of duty or responsibility; idle.
3. of, relating to, or characteristic of a person who neglects a duty, responsibility, or required attendance.

verb (used without object)

1. to be neglectful of duty, responsibility, or attendence.

truant

/ ˈtruːənt /

noun

1. a person who is absent without leave, esp from school

adjective

1. being or relating to a truant

verb

1. intr to play truant

Derived Forms

• ˈtruancy, noun

Other Words From

• truant·ly adverb
• non·truant noun adjective
• un·truant adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of truant¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English from Old French: “vagrant, beggar” from Celtic; compare Welsh truan “wretched, wretch”

Word History and Origins

Origin of truant¹

C13: from Old French: vagabond, probably of Celtic origin; compare Welsh truan miserable, Old Irish trōg wretched

Example Sentences

She opened it and found a letter demanding to know why Landon had been truant from his online classes during the fall semester.

From ProPublica

However, truant absentee ballots still remained a problem in Connecticut, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas.

From FiveThirtyEight

In Florida, Illinois and New York, truant poll workers caused some polling places to open late.

From FiveThirtyEight

Behind the fantasy dashboard sat Wood, conducting a violent campaign on snares and cymbals, and admiring the ultimate truant.

From The Daily Beast

His schooling began at the age of nine, but the boy played truant so frequently that he was sent to boarding-school in Avignon.

From Project Gutenberg

It is only to transact some higher business that even Apollo dare play the truant from Admetus.

From Project Gutenberg

As a boy at the Grammar School of his native town, it is to be feared he loved to play truant.

From Project Gutenberg

Haply her truant tresses mock Some coronal of shapelier block, To wit, the bounding billy-cock.

From Project Gutenberg

At that the truant driver appeared, coming at a trot from down the street.

From Project Gutenberg