Sailor dispatched isn’t there (6)
I believe the answer is:
absent
'isn't there' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'sailor dispatched' is the wordplay.
'sailor' becomes 'ab' (abbreviation for able seaman).
'dispatched' becomes 'sent' (I've seen this before).
'ab'+'sent'='ABSENT'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for absent that I've seen before include "elsewhere" , "Not where one should be" , "Not attending" , "Not present or focused" , "Missing or dreamy" .)