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

Fibroids that bulge into the uterine cavity—called submucosal fibroids—are often associated with the most significant bleeding changes, regardless of size. —Beth Krietsch, SELF, 2 Mar. 2026

No matter what, the cavity always formed adjacent to the weaker cells; in other words, the water flowed along the path of least resistance. —Clare Watson, Quanta Magazine, 27 Feb. 2026

The bird, an eastern screech owl, is nocturnal and typically nests in tree cavities. —ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026

More than half of children 6 to 8 years old have had a cavity in at least one of their baby teeth, and more than half of teens ages 12 to 19 have had a cavity in at least one of their permanent teeth, the health department said. —Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 24 Feb. 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