An absentee is a person who is supposed to be in a place — school, work, a meeting, a vote — but is not there. The word names the person, not the empty chair. A teacher may count the absentees; an office may keep a list of them.

An absentee is a person who is supposed to be in a placeabsentee指的是應該要在某個地方出現的人, school, work, a meeting, a vote像是學校、上班、開會、投票, but is not there卻沒有出現. The word names the person, not the empty chair這個字指的是人，不是那張空出來的椅子. A teacher may count the absentees老師可能會清點缺席的學生, an office may keep a list of them辦公室則可能列一份缺席名單

Though actually, English also uses it in a few set ways that are more specific than “anyone who is missing.” An absentee landlord owns a house or land but does not live there or look after it. An absentee ballot is a voting paper for someone who cannot go to the polling station on the day: the person is away, not the paper.

Though actually, English also uses it in a few set ways that are more specific than "anyone who is missing."不過其實，英語也把它用在幾個更明確的固定說法裡，不只是「任何缺席的人」: An absentee landlord owns a house or land一個absentee landlord（不在地地主）擁有房子或土地, but does not live there or look after it卻不住在那裡、也不去照管. An absentee ballot is a voting paper for someone who cannot go to the polling station on the dayabsentee ballot（缺席投票、通訊投票）是給當天沒辦法到投票所的人用的選票, the person is away, not the paper是人不在，不是那張票不在

The word is ordinary and a little formal. In everyday talk people more often say “he didn’t come” or “she’s off today.”

The word is ordinary and a little formal這個字很普通，也有點正式. In everyday talk people more often say "he didn't come"日常說話裡人們更常直接說「他沒來」, or "she's off today."或是「她今天請假」