adj
AWOL
AY-wawl
adj
1
Absent without official permission, especially from military duty.
"The soldier went awol after receiving bad news from home."
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.
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.