The Tottenham forward, 29, is expected to return to the squad in due course and no replacement will be called up.
England ' s first match is on Monday in Donetsk against France.
Wayne Rooney is ineligible for the first two games, while the other main strikers in the squad are Danny Welbeck and Andy Carroll.
Analysis
Image of Phil McNulty Phil McNulty Chief football writer, BBC Sport
Defoe appeared as a late substitute in England ' s final warm - up match, hitting the post in a ۱-۰ victory over Belgium at Wembley on Saturday.
It is not certain when he will return to the squad but he was not expected to start in any case against France.
The forward made his ۴۷th England appearance last weekend, a record ۳۰ of which have been as a subsitute, and he has scored ۱۵ goals for his country.
He also spent much of last season on the bench at Spurs, with ۱۷ of his ۳۸ appearances as a substitute, but scored ۱۷ goals.
