1. (

• absence

) the state of being absent; "he was surprised by the absence of any explanation" ;

2. (

• absence

) failure to be present ;

3. (

• absence

) the time interval during which something or somebody is away; "he visited during my absence" ;

4. (

• absence ,
• absence_seizure

) the occurrence of an abrupt, transient loss or impairment of consciousness (which is not subsequently remembered), sometimes with light twitching, fluttering eyelids, etc.; common in petit mal epilepsy ;