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
1
Absent without official permission, especially from military duty.
"The soldier went awol after receiving bad news from home."
"The Army had a lot of AWOL soldiers."
noun
1
informal: Someone or something that has gone missing without explanation.
"My phone charger has gone awol again."
How to use AWOL
Learner’s notesIn 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.
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Word forms
- Plural
- AWOLs
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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.
Synonyms
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Related words
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.
