in the absence of

in the absence of (someone or something)

Because someone or something is not available or present. You're a better cook than I am—what can we substitute in the absence of butter? In the absence of our secretary, who will log the minutes? In the absence of any other evidence, the court is sure to dismiss a he-said-she-said case like this one.

See also: absence, of

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

in the absence of someone or something

while someone or something isn't here; without someone or something. In the absence of the cook, I'll prepare dinner. In the absence of opposition, she won easily.

See also: absence, of

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.