vagrancy

noun

va·​gran·​cy ˈvā-grən(t)-sē 

plural vagrancies

1

: the state or action of being vagrant

2

: the offense of being a vagrant

3

: vagary

Synonyms of vagrancy

• whim

Examples of vagrancy in a Sentence

a frequent victim to the vagrancies of the heart, she had a succession of passionate but short-lived romances

Recent Examples on the Web

Meanwhile, in England and the United States and across continental Europe, statutes that punished idleness sharpened into vagrancy laws that gave police discretionary power to identify when a form of nonaction constituted criminal disorder. — Sophie Landres, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026

Following the conquest of the Philippines, hundreds of American veterans were charged under the vagrancy laws as civilians and deported back to the United States. — H.m.a. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 26 June 2026

Philadelphia’s vagrancy docket is full of examples of freedom seekers who were apprehended almost immediately. — Carolyn Zola, The Conversation, 11 June 2026

The Market Street properties are currently subject to frequent vagrancy and vandalism. — Matthew Geiger, Denver Post, 25 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

vagr(ant) entry 1 or vagr(ant) entry 2 + -ancy

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

vagrancy

noun

va·​gran·​cy ˈvā-grən(t)-sē 

plural vagrancies

: the state or action of being vagrant

Legal Definition

vagrancy

noun

va·​gran·​cy ˈvā-grən-sē 

plural vagrancies

1

: the act or practice of wandering about from place to place

2

: the crime of wandering about without employment or identifiable means of support

the court struck down the vagrancy law as unconstitutionally vague

Note: Most vagrancy laws have been abolished.