Origin: Latin suffix -ance
Attendance has 4 different meanings across 1 category:
the act of being present (at a meeting or event etc.)
"We all have to sign in as proof of attendance for the safety inspection tomorrow."
the frequency with which a person is present
"a student's attendance is an important factor in her grade"
The state of attending; presence or waiting upon.
"The sudden change in temperature caused a noticeable drop in attendance at the morning market, as many vendors waited upon their stalls without customers passing by."
In plain English: Attendance is the act of showing up to be present at a specific place or event.
"The school sent out letters to ensure good attendance on exam day."
Usage: Attendance refers to the act of being present at an event or the number of people who showed up. Do not confuse it with attendance records, which are documents tracking that presence rather than the concept itself.
The word comes from the Old French atendre, which meant to pay attention or listen. It entered Middle English as "attendance," evolving from that sense of listening into its current meaning of being present at an event.