adj

AWOL

AY-wawl

AWOL (adj) means Absent without official permission, especially from military duty. Example: “The soldier went awol after receiving bad news from home.”

adj

Absent without official permission, especially from military duty.

"The soldier went awol after receiving bad news from home."

noun

informal: Someone or something that has gone missing without explanation.

"My phone charger has gone awol again."

How to use AWOL

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMissing without permission — originally military slang, now used casually for anything gone missing.

When to use it

Often written in lowercase (awol) in casual, non-military use.

Word forms

AWOLs plural

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The soldier went _____ after receiving bad news from home.

Etymology

An acronym of "absent without official leave", originally US military usage.

Frequently asked questions

What does “AWOL” mean?

The word “AWOL” means absent without official permission, especially from military duty. In plain terms, missing without permission — originally military slang, now used casually for anything gone missing.

How do you pronounce “AWOL”?

“AWOL” is pronounced AY-wawl (/ˈeɪ̯.wɔl/ in IPA).

How do you use “AWOL” in a sentence?

Here is “AWOL” used in a sentence: “The soldier went awol after receiving bad news from home.”

What part of speech is “AWOL”?

Depending on how it is used, “AWOL” can be an adjective and a noun.

How many meanings does “AWOL” have?

“AWOL” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: absent without official permission, especially from military duty.