AWOL
Military term: absent
AWOL stands for "absent without leave"—military terminology for someone who has left their post or duty station without permission.
The term has spread to civilian use for anyone who disappears without explanation: The intern went AWOL for three days.
Pronounced either as initials (A-W-O-L) or as a word rhyming with "bay-wall."
Habitual failure to attend
- unauthorizedNot officially permitted
- desertionUnlawful abandonment of duty
- abscondingDeparting secretly to evade
- furloughGranted absence from work
muster · barracks · deployment · garrison · court-martial · brig · stockade · MP
Rhythmic hopping locomotion
Defying workplace authority
- noncomplianceFailure to follow requirements
- disobedienceRefusal to follow orders
- rebellionDefiance of established power
- mutinyRevolt against authority
desertion · resistance · disregard · recalcitrance · dissent · indiscipline · breach · violation
Not included or explained
- whereaboutsApproximate current position
- disappearedCeased to exist visibly
- vanishedDisappeared from sight
- goneNo longer present
search · absent · untraceable · incommunicado · unreachable · unseen · unfound · off-grid
absenteeism
Habitual failure to attend
- unauthorizedNot officially permitted
- desertionUnlawful abandonment of duty
- abscondingDeparting secretly to evade
furlough · muster · barracks · deployment · garrison · court-martial · brig · stockade · MP · regiment
skipping
Rhythmic hopping locomotion
- ditchingHastily discarding something
- truantUnauthorized school no-show
- hookyUnauthorized school absence
bunking · ghosting · flaking · no-show · bailing · MIA · unexcused
insubordination
Defying workplace authority
- noncomplianceFailure to follow requirements
- disobedienceRefusal to follow orders
- rebellionDefiance of established power
mutiny · desertion · resistance · disregard · recalcitrance · dissent · indiscipline · breach · violation · misconduct
unaccounted
Not included or explained
- whereaboutsApproximate current position
- disappearedCeased to exist visibly
- vanishedDisappeared from sight
gone · search · absent · untraceable · incommunicado · unreachable · unseen · unfound · off-grid · no-show
- Military AcronymsMIA, KIA, POW, NCO, CO
- military slangFUBAR, hoorah, devil dog, SNAFU, GI
- attendanceattendance, present, absent, here, attendance sheet
- combat idiomsstab in the back, dodge a bullet, in the crosshairs, take a shot, under the gun
- Draft Evasiondraft dodging, conscientious objector, conscientious objection, deferment, desertion
- Military Desertiondeserter, desertion, absconding, absconders, defection
AWOLpresent
Gift or current moment
here · attending · accounted for · reporting for duty · checked in
AWOLon duty
Actively at one's station
dutiful · at attention · in formation · compliant · obedient