Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Absent without leave.
  • noun One who is absent without leave.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Absent without leave (permission).
  • noun military Absence without proper authority from the properly appointed place of duty, or from unit, organization, or other place of duty at which one is required to be at the time prescribed.
  • noun military A person who holds AWOL status.
  • noun generic Somebody who is absent without permission.
  • noun figuratively Someone or something missing.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun one who is away or absent without leave
  • adjective absent without permission

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Acronym used in the United States military: “Absent WithOut Leave”.

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