truant

1 of 3

noun

tru·​ant ˈtrü-ənt How to pronounce truant (audio)
: one who shirks duty
especially : one who stays out of school without permission

truant

2 of 3

adjective

1
: shirking responsibility
2
: being, resembling, or characteristic of a truant

truant

3 of 3

verb

truanted; truanting; truants

intransitive verb

: to idle away time especially while playing truant

Examples of truant in a Sentence

Noun an increasing number of truants
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The trend of workplace truants has been an ongoing problem for the French economy. Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 29 Oct. 2024 So, if Trump tries to cancel the debate or just doesn’t show up, the Biden team could prepare one of his sparring partners to be onstage, unofficially representing the truant. Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 21 June 2024
Adjective
Students aren’t just truant to be truant, Captain said. Nadia Scharf, Journal Sentinel, 23 Oct. 2024 The analysis estimated that switching to enrollment would cost about $3.4 billion a year, since truant students would still qualify their schools for aid. Dan Walters, Orange County Register, 12 Sep. 2024
Verb
The program helps truant students get back on track. Byron Pitts, ABC News, 16 Nov. 2023 In Los Angeles, school superintendent Alberto Carvalho has gone door to door; in Alabama, signs stressing the importance of attendance are displayed on front lawns; in Philadelphia, local programs have been established that send out text messages to potentially truant youths' parents. Lauren Lantry, ABC News, 16 Nov. 2023 See all Example Sentences for truant 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, vagabond, idler, from Anglo-French, of Celtic origin; akin to Old Irish trógán wretch, trúag wretched

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1561, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1580, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of truant was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near truant

Cite this Entry

“Truant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/truant. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

truant

noun
tru·​ant
ˈtrü-ənt
1
: a person who neglects duty
2
: a student who stays out of school without permission
truant adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!