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Glite Dictionary
nonappearance

nonappearance

1 7.5
A failure by a person to come to a place they should, often in court or at a meeting
  • noun
  • /ˌnɒnəˈpɪərəns/
  • Formal
: ausencia
  • Her nonappearance at the meeting raised concerns among the committee members about her well-being.

Examples

  • The judge issued a warrant for the defendant's nonappearance at the trial.

  • I crawled into bed to write to you, although I know the Chinese consider my nonappearance barbaric.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • Writing again in the National Review of July 1857, Richmond lamented the almost total nonappearance of a genuine Leonardo at Manchester.

    Academic text (2012)

  • The lawyer explained the consequences of a nonappearance in court, which could delay the legal proceedings.

Synonyms

absence
vsnonappearance
312 2.1

A lack of someone or something that should be there

is narrower and means failing to appear mainly in formal situations
no-show
vsnonappearance
44 4.0

A person expected at an appointment who does not arrive and gives no notice

is focused on the failure itself in formal or legal contexts
nonpresence
vsnonappearance
1 8.9

Not being in a place or at an event

is focused on failing to appear especially in official or legal contexts
nonattendance
vsnonappearance
1 6.5

Not being present at an event when people expect you

is about failing to appear in formal or legal situations

Antonyms

appearance
470 2.6

A person or thing becoming visible in public, for example on stage

Surface Forms

nonappearance singular
nonappearances plural

Morphology

nonappearance = appearance (transparent) = non + appear + ance

The prefix 'non-' clearly negates the noun 'appearance', indicating the absence of appearance.

Etymology

The word nonappearance breaks into non- meaning 'not' and appearance, from appear, meaning 'to show up'. So a nonappearance is when someone 'does not' show up, especially in a formal place like a court or a meeting.