Standard Lemma guide

presenteeism

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • Received-Pronunciation: /pɹɛ.sənˈtiːˌɪz.m̩/
  • General-American: /ˌpɹɛ.sənˈtiˌɪz.m̩/

1

noun

Meaning 1

The fact of being present at work, especially if one is too sick to be productive, or working beyond the expected hours.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From presentee + -ism, after absenteeism, coined by academic Cary Cooper.

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 出勤主義 /出勤主义 (chūqín zhǔyì) — being at work when sick
  • Finnish: presenteismi — being at work when sick
  • French: présentéisme — being at work when sick
  • German: Präsentismus — being at work when sick
  • Romanian: prezentism — being at work when sick
  • Spanish: presentismo — being at work when sick