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

For me, the issue is in the past she’s sent people to jail for petty offenses like sending single mothers to jail for their children being truant, minor marijuana charges, and so on.

From Slate

Who could forget the SS23 show, “For the Truant and the Fluent,” in which designer and L.A. resident Tommy Bogo created a classroom setting for his runway?

From Los Angeles Times

Q: How do you explain to your progressive supporters that as a district attorney, you championed legislation that allowed parents of chronically truant students to be prosecuted?

From Salon

Parents who allow their children to be chronically truant are hurting them and hurting us.

From Salon

In the episode “Alex,” where the two visit a truant student at home, “I see us making these conscious choices to take their relationship from hemming and hawing and not knowing where they are to almost mom-and-dad-like,” Williams says.

From Los Angeles Times