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

González, who served on the City Council for 12 years before losing his seat in 2019, returned to the council after members appointed him in January to fill the vacancy left by Jesus Tundidor. — Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 4 Nov. 2026

The Liberty’s coaching vacancy is the second in the WNBA after the season. — Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026

Moody, 51, was appointed last year to fill a vacancy left by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. — Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026

Penny’s passion compels her – unbeknownst to her controlling husband James – to get a job on the Network, filling a vacancy while co-host Cybil (Mann) is off work. — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 4 Nov. 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