absence
noun
uk/ˈæbsəns/ us [ C or U ] HR
a time when someone is not at work or at the place they are expected to be:
absence from sth Her absence from the meeting was noted.
in sb's absence His fellow directors voted in his absence to fire him.
The worst day for workplace absences is Monday.
[ U ]
the fact that something is not where it is needed or expected:
The business was suffering from an absence of an overall plan for moving forward.
in the absence of sth In the absence of any alternative, we'll continue in the same way as before.
See also
leave of absence