Abscond means to depart suddenly and secretly, especially to avoid capture or legal prosecution. It is generally used to describe someone running from the law or capture, and the word has been in use since the early 16th century. The act of absconding can be considered a parole violation and can lead to the possibility of arrest or additional penalties. People can be accused of absconding in many different types of legal cases, and it is important to understand exactly what absconding consists of, so one can avoid taking actions that could lead to this problem.