cavity

noun

cav·​i·​ty ˈka-və-tē 

plural cavities

1

: an unfilled space within a mass

especially : a hollowed-out space

2

: an area of decay in a tooth : caries

Synonyms of cavity

• hole
• dent
• pit
• concavity

Examples of cavity in a Sentence

Some birds nest in tree cavities.

I had two cavities filled at the dentist's.

Recent Examples on the Web

Encouraging your kid to brush their teeth twice a day, with a dab of fluoride toothpaste, will guard against cavities. —Barrie Gillies, Parents, 9 Mar. 2026

The cavity boosts the process through the Purcell effect, which increases the rate at which photons can be emitted. —Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 8 Mar. 2026

Surgeons drained nearly three liters of blood from his chest cavity. —Emily Trainham, FOXNews.com, 7 Mar. 2026

One captures a white concrete community mausoleum, its crypts often empty, like absent teeth cavities, its coffins stolen presumably for anything valuable inside. —John Hopewell, Variety, 6 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French cavité, borrowed from Late Latin cavitāt-, cavitās, from Latin cavus "hollow, concave" + -itāt-, -itās -ity — more at hole entry 1

First Known Use

1541, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing cavity

• abdominal cavity
• body cavity
• pelvic cavity
• segmentation cavity
• spinal cavity
• thoracic cavity

Rhymes for cavity

• gravity
• concavity
• depravity
• intracavity
• microgravity
• supergravity

Kids Definition

cavity

noun

cav·​i·​ty ˈkav-ət-ē 

plural cavities

1

: a hollow place

especially : an unfilled bodily space

lung cavity

2

: a hole hollowed out in a tooth by decay

Medical Definition

cavity

noun

cav·​i·​ty ˈkav-ət-ē 

plural cavities

1

: an unfilled space within a mass

2

: an area of decay in a tooth : caries