vacancy

noun

va·​can·​cy ˈvā-kən(t)-sē 

plural vacancies

1

: a vacant office, post, or tenancy

2

a

: a vacating of an office, post, or piece of property

b

: the time such office or property is vacant

3

: physical or mental inactivity or relaxation : idleness

4

: empty space : void

specifically : an unoccupied site for an atom or ion in a crystal

5

: the state of being vacant : vacuity

6

archaic : an interval of leisure

Synonyms

• emptiness
• void

Examples of vacancy in a Sentence

School administrators are trying to fill vacancies before the beginning of the school year.

There were no vacancies at the hotel.

Recent Examples on the Web

The City Commission is charged with appointing a replacement to fill the vacancy, according to the City Charter. —Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 23 July 2025

In 2024, nearly half of hospitals had nursing vacancy rates higher than 10 percent, with the average time to fill a Registered Nurse (RN) position taking anywhere from 59 to 109 days. —Michael B. Horn, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025

Charlotte’s office space construction A future factor that will affect Charlotte’s office vacancy rate is office space construction. —Charlotte Observer, 21 July 2025

Cities like Pittsburgh, where the office vacancy rate is about 20%, are seeing high demand for luxury office buildings with slick amenities—likely favored by larger employers who can afford to offer RTO perks—while older buildings continue to languish. —Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 18 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

vac(ant) + -ancy, in part after Medieval Latin vacantia

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 6

Kids Definition

vacancy

noun

va·​can·​cy ˈvā-kən-sē 

plural vacancies

1

: something (as an office or hotel room) that is vacant

2

: empty space

3

: the state of being vacant