no-show
UK[ˈnəʊ ʃəʊ]US[ˈnoʊ ʃoʊ]
n
a person who is expected to be somewhere but does not arrive or attend
n
a failure to appear or be present as expected
Morpheme Breakdown
no
show
no
show
Etymology
The term 'no-show' is a modern English compound noun formed by directly combining the common negative particle 'no' with the noun 'show', derived from the verb meaning 'to appear'. It originated in the mid-20th century, primarily within the commercial and transportation sectors (like airlines and hotels), to logically describe the scenario where an expected appearance or presentation ('show') fails to materialize ('no'). The compound efficiently encapsulates the concept of an absence that constitutes a breach of an implied or explicit commitment to be present, reflecting a pragmatic, descriptive approach to word formation in contemporary English.
Analysis
Structure: no + show
no: (Old English) A negative particle, functioning as a determiner/adverb to indicate absence or negation.
show: (Old English) A verb meaning to cause or allow to be seen, to present, or to appear. In this compound, it functions as a noun meaning an act of appearing or being present.
Examples
The flight was overbooked to compensate for potential no-shows.
We had three no-shows for the dinner reservation.
He was marked as a no-show for the important meeting.