noun
truant
TROO-uhnt
Truant (noun) means a student who stays away from school without permission. Example: “The truant was caught hiding out at the arcade during school hours.”
noun
1
A student who stays away from school without permission.
"The truant was caught hiding out at the arcade during school hours."
verb
1
To skip school or shirk one's responsibilities without permission.
"He used to truant every Friday to go fishing."
How to use truant
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone who skips school without permission, or the act of doing so.
Common pairings
play truant
truant officer
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like truant.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- truants
- Third person singular
- truants
- Past tense
- truanted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ was caught hiding out at the arcade during school hours.
Etymology
From Old French truant, "beggar" or "vagabond," probably of Celtic origin — the word originally described any wandering idler, long before it narrowed to mean a school-skipper.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for truant
See all rhymes for truant →Frequently asked questions
What does “truant” mean?
The word “truant” means a student who stays away from school without permission. In plain terms, someone who skips school without permission, or the act of doing so.
How do you pronounce “truant”?
“Truant” is pronounced TROO-uhnt (/ˈtɹuənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “truant” in a sentence?
Here is “truant” used in a sentence: “The truant was caught hiding out at the arcade during school hours.”
What part of speech is “truant”?
Depending on how it is used, “truant” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “truant” come from?
The word “truant” comes from Old French. From Old French truant, "beggar" or "vagabond," probably of Celtic origin — the word originally described any wandering idler, long before it narrowed to mean a school-skipper.
How many meanings does “truant” have?
“Truant” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a student who stays away from school without permission.
