disappearance
the act of no longer being seen or found
When a person or thing was there before, but now cannot be seen or found.
the disappearance of [someone/something]
- Police are investigating the sudden disappearance of the six-year-old boy from the playground.
- Her keys' disappearance from the kitchen table delayed everyone for twenty minutes.
- The magician's most impressive trick was the complete disappearance of the car.
- Neighbors grew worried after his unexplained disappearance last weekend.
- The security camera footage may help to solve her mysterious disappearance.
- We were very scared after the sudden disappearance of our child in the store.
- The disappearance of my wallet made me late for work.
- Everyone in the village talked about the strange disappearance of the dog.
- The police asked us when we first noticed her disappearance.
- His disappearance was on the front page of the newspaper.
gradual end or fading of something
When something slowly goes away and is no longer part of life, used, or seen.
the gradual disappearance of [something]
- Many historians worry about the disappearance of local languages in the region.
- The report highlights the rapid disappearance of insects from farmland across Europe.
- Online shopping has contributed to the disappearance of small family-owned shops from city centers.
- Researchers have documented the near disappearance of this bird from its former habitat.
- The disappearance of traditional crafts is changing the character of the village.
- People are concerned about the disappearance of many animal species.
- The internet has led to the disappearance of some old jobs.
- We can see the slow disappearance of traditional clothes in big cities.
- Teachers talk about the disappearance of reading for fun among teenagers.
- The disappearance of forests is a serious problem for the world.
secret abduction, often political
When someone is secretly taken and kept or killed, often by the government or soldiers, and no one is told where they are or what happened.
an enforced/forced disappearance
- Human rights groups documented hundreds of enforced disappearances during the civil war.
- Her brother's disappearance in 1984 has never been properly investigated.
- The UN committee demanded information about all cases of political disappearance in the region.
- Families of the victims of forced disappearances marched through the capital demanding justice.
- The report concludes that disappearance was used as a tool of state terror.
- Many families still have no answers about the disappearance of their loved ones.
- The group works to stop enforced disappearance in the country.
- Her father's disappearance happened after he spoke against the government.
- The newspaper wrote about cases of disappearance during the war.
- They want the truth about every disappearance to be known.
- Base: disappearance
- Plural: disappearance, disappearances
do a disappearing act
1suddenly go away to avoid something
To suddenly go away or hide so that other people cannot find you, often to avoid work, responsibility, or an awkward situation.
- He always does a disappearing act when it's time to clean up after the party.
- My phone company did a disappearing act when I tried to complain about the bill.
- As soon as the police arrived, the thieves did a disappearing act.
enforced disappearance
1state-organized secret abduction
A human-rights term for when the state or people working for it secretly take someone away and do not say where they are or what happened to them.
- The UN convention on enforced disappearance entered into force in 2010.
- Families of victims of enforced disappearance are still waiting for justice.
- The report accuses the security forces of using enforced disappearance as a tool of repression.
mysterious disappearance
1a disappearance with unknown cause
Used when someone or something cannot be found and nobody knows clearly what happened.
- The documentary looks at the mysterious disappearance of the airplane.
- News of his mysterious disappearance quickly spread through the city.
- Her mysterious disappearance became the subject of many online theories.
the disappearance of [something/someone]
1talking about what has disappeared
A common way to say that a person or thing is no longer there, seen, or existing.
- The disappearance of my passport nearly ruined our holiday.
- Experts are worried about the disappearance of bees from many parts of the world.
- The film explores the disappearance of a young woman in a small town.