vacant

adjective

va·​cant ˈvā-kənt 

1

: not occupied by an incumbent, possessor, or officer

a vacant office

vacant thrones

2

: being without content or occupant

a vacant seat on a bus

a vacant room

3

: free from activity or work

vacant hours

4

: devoid of thought, reflection, or expression

a vacant smile

5

: not lived in

vacant houses

6

a

: not put to use

vacant land

b

: having no heir or claimant : abandoned

a vacant estate

vacantly adverb

vacantness noun

Synonyms of vacant

• empty
• devoid
• barren

Choose the Right Synonym for vacant

empty, vacant, blank, void, vacuous mean lacking contents which could or should be present.

empty suggests a complete absence of contents.

an empty bucket

vacant suggests an absence of appropriate contents or occupants.

a vacant apartment

blank stresses the absence of any significant, relieving, or intelligible features on a surface.

a blank wall

void suggests absolute emptiness as far as the mind or senses can determine.

a statement void of meaning

vacuous suggests the emptiness of a vacuum and especially the lack of intelligence or significance.

a vacuous facial expression

Examples of vacant in a Sentence

These lockers are all vacant.

The seat was left vacant when the secretary resigned.

He had a vacant expression on his face.

Recent Examples on the Web

Neighbors told investigators the house had been vacant for about two years, the Detroit Fire Chief Reginald Harper said in a video sent to the Free Press by the Detroit Fire Department. —Natalie Davies, Freep.com, 15 Nov. 2025

The couple purchased the vacant parcel in 2020 for more than $30 million—it was once owned by legendary musician Julio Iglesias—and spent the past several years bringing their vision for a palatial South Florida residence to life. —Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 13 Nov. 2025

Councilmember Wanda Vaughn asked if the city could use one of its vacant buildings for a homeless shelter to operate, but Smith said that the city isn’t equipped financially or from a human resource standpoint to begin services. —Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 13 Nov. 2025

Enrollment reached a 30-year low last year at 894 students, leaving more than 200 vacant seats at the school as inflation drives up costs. —Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 12 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English vacaunt, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin vacant-, vacans, present participle of vacāre "to be empty or unoccupied, have space, be free,"; perhaps akin to Hittite wakkāari "lacks," wakšyi- "be lacking"

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing vacant

• situations vacant
• vacant lot
• vacant possession

Kids Definition

vacant

adjective

va·​cant ˈvā-kənt 

1

: not filled, used, or lived in

a vacant house

2

: free from duties or care

a few vacant hours

3

: showing lack of thought

a vacant stare

vacantly adverb

Legal Definition

vacant

adjective

va·​cant

1

: not filled or occupied

2

a

: not put to use

vacant land

b

: having no heir or claimant

a vacant estate