Truant
/ˈtruːənt/
nounadjectiveB2
Definition
A truant is someone, usually a student, who does not go to school when they should, without a good reason or permission. As an adjective, it describes the action or state of skipping school without permission.
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See It in Action
Noun: A student who stays away from school without permission
- •The school called the parents because their child was a truant.
- •Truants often miss important lessons and fall behind.
- •The teacher noticed several truants in the class last month.
Adjective: Describing behavior of skipping school without permission
- •The truant student was warned by the principal.
- •Truant behavior can lead to penalties or meetings with parents.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "truant" like "absent" (A1 word), but it means missing school without telling or having a good reason
- ✓Picture a student hiding or wandering outside instead of sitting in a classroom during school hours
- ✓It's the feeling of breaking a rule quietly, like sneaking away from something important
- ✓Sounds like "TRUE-ant" → Imagine someone trying to be "true" but actually being absent secretly
- ✓Think of stories where kids skip school to have adventures but get into trouble later
- ✓NOT like "ill" (missing school because of sickness) — truant means skipping on purpose without permission
- ✓NOT like "vacation" (planned time off) — truant is unplanned and against rules
- ✓NOT like "absent" in general, because "truant" always means skipping school without permission
Try Other Words
- •Absent: not present (Use when you want to say someone is not there, but it does not always mean without permission)
- •Skip school: not go to school on purpose (Use for informal speech or writing)
- •Play hooky: slang for skipping school (Use in casual conversation)
- •Missing school: general phrase for not attending school (Use when reason is unknown or unimportant)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: root "truant" (no prefix or suffix)
- •Etymology: From Old French "truand" meaning "beggar" or "vagabond," later used in English for someone who wanders and does not attend school
- •Historical development: Originally meant a person who wanders or is idle; by the 16th century, it referred to children who skip school
- •Modern usage: Mainly used to describe students who miss school without permission; also used as an adjective for related behavior
Reflect & Connect
•Why do some students become truants, and how can schools help them return?
•How does being a truant affect a student's future learning and opportunities?
Fill in the blanks
1.When a student is truant, they usually ___ school without telling anyone or having a good reason.
2.Schools often contact parents if their child is a truant to ___ the problem early.
3.Being truant is different from being absent because it means missing school ___ permission.
4.Some students become truant because they feel ___ or have problems at school.
5.Teachers try to help truant students by offering ___ or support to improve attendance.
6.The principal warned the truant student that continued skipping school could ___ serious consequences.
7.When a student is truant, we can often infer they are ___ from their studies and may need help.