truant
truant — noun
- truantsingular
- truantsplural
1. a student who stays away from school without a good reason, often on a regular b
a student who stays away from school without a good reason, often on a regular basis, without their parents knowing about it
The school counselor met with Caleb, a known truant, to discuss his attendance problems.
countable noun; followed by name in apposition
Reema was labeled a truant after missing twenty days of class without a doctor's note.
A police officer found several truants hanging out at the shopping mall during school hours.
The school's attendance officer visited the homes of every truant on the list.
- skipper
informal, chiefly US
- hooky player
informal, US expression ('playing hooky')
- attender
someone who goes to school regularly; less common than 'truant'
用法筆記
Often used in educational and legal contexts. A 'truant' is specifically a student — not just anyone who is absent.
常見錯誤
2. the condition of being absent from school on purpose and without permission, vie
the condition of being absent from school on purpose and without permission, viewed as an ongoing problem or pattern rather than a label for one particular child
The school board called truancy a top priority after attendance at Westbrook High fell below 80% for two terms.
uncountable noun: truancy as direct object of 'called'
Inspectors found that truancy was worst among Year Seven pupils at Northwood Academy, where some missed class twice a week.
pattern: truancy + quantifier (worst/frequent)
Zola missed her first Tuesday class because of nerves, and a single day of truancy grew into a weekly habit.
The city's outreach team visited families whose children showed early signs of truancy, offering counseling before the problem got worse.
- truancy
the standard formal noun; 'truant' as a state noun is less common
- absence without leave
formal, used in school disciplinary codes
- attendance
the act of being present at school as required
用法筆記
Used as an uncountable noun, similar to 'truancy' but less formal. Not used in the plural.
常見錯誤
3. a person who avoids doing what they are supposed to do, especially when others a
a person who avoids doing what they are supposed to do, especially when others are counting on them
Ramón's crew called him a truant for hiding whenever boxes needed carrying.
figurative use: truant in a work context
Nobody on the team wants to work with a truant who avoids every hard job.
The manager warned that any truant among the staff would be asked to explain their absences at the monthly review.
Kasia called him a truant after he skipped three volunteer shifts in a row without telling anyone.
- shirker
more direct synonym; 'truant' is less common for this figurative sense
- slacker
informal, broader meaning — someone lazy, not necessarily absent
- malingerer
someone who pretends to be ill to avoid work; more formal
- workhorse
someone who works very hard; informal
- dependable person
someone others can rely on
用法筆記
This is a figurative extension from the school meaning. Used critically to accuse someone of not pulling their weight. Common in informal workplace or group settings.
truant — adjective
- truantpositive
- more truantcomparative
- most truantsuperlative
1. describing a student who is not in school when they should be, having chosen to
describing a student who is not in school when they should be, having chosen to stay away without their parents' or teacher's knowledge
The truant students were found hanging out at the video game arcade on Third Street.
attributive use: truant + noun
Sirin's truant son had been spending his school days at the public library reading comic books.
A group of truant pupils was spotted by the town mayor near the canal during school hours.
The attendance system sends a text to parents whenever a child is marked truant for first period.
- absent without permission
more formal; used in official contexts
- missing
broader — can apply to any reason, not just truancy
- present
the opposite — physically at school when required
文法句型
truant + noun (student/child/pupil)
用法筆記
Can be used both before a noun ('truant student') and after linking verbs ('was marked truant'). The predicative use often appears in official school records.
2. describing a person who avoids their responsibilities or fails to do the work th
describing a person who avoids their responsibilities or fails to do the work they are supposed to do
The board criticized the truant director for missing three board meetings in a row.
figurative use: truant director
Tanvi's truant attitude toward her committee duties frustrated the other volunteers.
collocation: truant attitude
The team was fed up with their truant teammate who never showed up for practice sessions.
A truant employee who avoids every deadline will quickly lose the trust of their coworkers.
- shirking
more direct; 'truant' is milder and slightly ironic
- irresponsible
broader — covers all kinds of unreliability, not just absence
文法句型
truant + noun (employee/member/official)
用法筆記
Less common than the school-focused adjective sense. Used critically, often with mild humor or sarcasm. Works best with role nouns ('truant employee,' 'truant committee member').
truant — verb
- truantpresent simple I / you / we / they
- truantshe / she / it
- truantedpast simple
- truanting-ing form
1. to miss school on purpose when you are supposed to be in class, usually going so
to miss school on purpose when you are supposed to be in class, usually going somewhere else or doing something you enjoy instead
Olivia and her best friend decided to truant from school and go to the park instead.
pattern: truant from + school
If students truant too often, their parents may receive a fine from the school district.
adverb + truant: truant too often
Kian admitted that he used to truant with his cousin when they were both in eighth grade.
The two boys were caught on camera truanting near the train station during second period.
- skip school
common in US and Canada; more widely understood
- play hooky
informal US idiom, older but still used
- bunk off
British slang, very informal
- attend school
the opposite — to go to school as required
文法句型
truant from + school/class
truant with + person
用法筆記
Chiefly British in this verb form; American English prefers 'play hooky' or 'skip school.' Frequently used in the progressive form ('truanting'). Typically intransitive — you do not 'truant school' (without 'from').