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

The current solution adds memory by wiring qubits to electromagnetic resonators, either as flat waveguide structures etched on the chip or three-dimensional microwave cavities. — New Atlas, 23 Sep. 2026

To dry-brine a turkey, first remove the neck and giblets from the cavity, then pat the bird dry with paper towels. — Zoe Denenberg, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026

Bees go into forests to find natural nesting cavities, search for food or establish permanent colonies, according to the Xeres Society for Invertebrate Conservation. — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 20 Sep. 2026

Microwave resonators and high-quality optical cavities could provide another path toward stronger conversion. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 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