The meaning of AWOL is absent without leave; broadly : absent often without notice or permission. How to use AWOL in a sentence.

AWOL definition: 1. abbreviation for absent without leave: used to say that a member of the armed forces is away…. Learn more.

If you say that someone has gone AWOL, you mean that they have disappeared without telling anyone where they were going.

Likewise, a volunteer at an animal shelter who skips his weekly shift is awol. This term is actually an acronym, an abbreviation of the military phrase "absent without leave."

AWOL definition: away from military duties without permission, but without the intention of deserting. See examples of AWOL used in a sentence.

Sep 26, 2025 · Adjective AWOL (not comparable) (originally military) Absent without official leave (permission).

Factsheet What does the word AWOL mean? There are four meanings listed in OED's entry for the word AWOL. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

May 12, 2025 · AWOL is an acronym that stands for “Absent Without Official Leave”. Originally a military term, it referred to a service member who left their post without permission and without …

/ˈeɪwɑːl/ absent without leave (used especially in the armed forces when somebody has left their group without permission) He's gone AWOL from his base. (humorous) The guitarist went …

AWOL (ˈeɪwɒl) or A.W.O.L. adj (Military) military absent without leave; absent from one's post or duty without official permission but without intending to desert