失踪 (shī zōng) literally means 'to lose one’s traces' — 失 (shī) means 'to lose' or 'to miss', and 踪 (zōng) means 'tracks', 'traces', or 'footprints'. Together, they form a verb meaning 'to go missing' — describing the sudden, unexplained disappearance of a person or animal, with no known location or contact. It implies concern and uncertainty, often triggering searches or official reports.

This word is commonly used in news reports, police announcements, and everyday conversation when someone vanishes without explanation — especially children, elderly people, or pets. It carries a neutral-to-formal register and is rarely used for voluntary or temporary absences (e.g., skipping class isn’t 失踪). While it can apply to objects in literary or metaphorical contexts, its primary and most frequent usage is for living beings whose whereabouts are unknown and worrying.