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 of vacancy

• 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

Proposition 5 would drop the question over who should fill the vacancy. — Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 24 July 2026

Ironically, as the office-to-residential boom has consumed millions of square feet of space, the office vacancy rate has declined and leasing has picked up, threatening converters’ ability to acquire properties at rock-bottom prices. — Andrew Rice, Curbed, 23 July 2026

The older buildings are where the vacancy rates continue to struggle. — Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 22 July 2026

According to the league’s statistics and information department, these 10 vacancies are believed to be a record. — Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 22 July 2026

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