Definition

The act of staying away from school without permission.

Example

Truancy can lead to serious consequences for students.

Conversation

Did you hear about the new policy on truancy at school?

Yeah, they're really cracking down on it now.

I guess they want to make sure everyone is attending classes regularly.

Right, I think it's a good idea to reduce truancy and keep students engaged.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Truancy is derived from "truant" (from Old French *truant*, meaning one who is absent) and the suffix "-cy" (meaning the state or condition of). The word "truancy" refers to the state of being absent, especially from school without permission.

Memory Tip

Think of a 'truant' as someone who is 'absent' — the '-cy' indicates a state, so truancy means the state of being absent.

Visually Confused Words