無断

What it means

What does 無断 mean? It denotes acting or proceeding without the permission or consent of the owner or relevant party; it covers actions taken without prior approval, such as using someone else’s property or leaving work without notice.

Main meanings

• absence of permission in actions that affect others' property or information
• negative connotation; denotes improper conduct or disregard for rules
• common in formal writing or reporting to describe unauthorized behavior such as entry, use, or absence without notice

How to use it

Used to describe actions performed without permission in various contexts—personal property, privacy, information, or access. Common in formal writing, legal contexts, journalism, and everyday speech when documenting improper behavior. It forms adverbial phrases with で ( 無断で ) and combines with other nouns to create compounds such as 無断欠勤.