truancy
TROO-uhn-see
/ˈtruːənsi/
The action of staying away from school without good reason; absenteeism.
Specifically refers to unauthorized absence from school, often seen as a 'gateway' to more serious delinquency.
The story behind the word. The word has a surprisingly gritty history. It comes from the Old French 'truand', meaning a beggar or a vagabond. In the 1500s, it began to be used specifically for students who wandered the streets instead of attending class.
Word relationships
- absenteeism: Absenteeism is a general term for being away, while truancy is specifically for students skipping school.
- attendance: Attendance is the act of being present, the direct opposite of truancy.
Commonly confused with
- hooky: 'Playing hooky' is a casual, lighthearted idiom; 'truancy' is the formal, legal term.
Word family
- truant (noun/adjective): A student who stays away from school without leave.
Collocations
- habitual truancy
- truancy rates
- play truant
Idioms & expressions
- play truant
Example sentences
- "Truancy is the first step on the road to crime for many disconnected youths." Educational policy report.
- "The school implemented a new policy to reduce truancy by calling parents the moment a student is missed." School board meeting.
Memory hook
A 'truant' is 'true' to their desire to skip class. Truancy: The 'true' way to miss class.
When not to use
Do not use for missing work; use 'absenteeism' instead.
Fun facts
- In some jurisdictions, parents can be fined or even jailed if their children have excessive truancy.
Related words
Explore more words
absenteeism, loitering, curfew violation, unauthorized, extracurricular, desertion
Also appears in
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