truant

The word "truant" usually describes someone, especially a student, who repeatedly stays away from school without permission. It carries more force than simple absenteeism because it suggests a deliberate choice to avoid an expected duty rather than a neutral or explained absence. The word is also connected historically with the idea of wandering or neglecting responsibility.

Although the term can sometimes be used more broadly for a person who avoids an important duty, that use is much less common. In everyday English, "truant" is still strongly tied to school and school attendance.

A student is not usually labeled as a truant after just one missed day; the term normally implies repeated and unexcused absences. Many schools have formal rules about truancy, including contact with parents, school meetings, and sometimes legal consequences if the pattern continues. In stories, a truant character may be shown as rebellious, restless, or eager for freedom. In the end, while "absent" can be a neutral word, "truant" usually points to repeated, unapproved absence and a clear avoidance of duty.