in a vacuum
idiom
: separated from outside events or influences
The group was operating in a vacuum, cut off from the rest of the world.
The city's riots did not happen in a vacuum. They were caused by recent political events.
Examples of in a vacuum in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Thin layers of frozen glycine were placed on a cold surface in a vacuum chamber that mimics a dense cloud of gas and dust in space.
—
William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
This public instinct didn’t emerge in a vacuum.
—Dustin Olson, Boston Herald, 25 Jan. 2026
The stock market, of course, doesn’t operate in a vacuum.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 25 Jan. 2026
Decisions don’t happen in a vacuum anymore.
—William Jones
january 21, Miami Herald, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for in a vacuum
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William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
This public instinct didn’t emerge in a vacuum.
—Dustin Olson, Boston Herald, 25 Jan. 2026
The stock market, of course, doesn’t operate in a vacuum.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 25 Jan. 2026
Decisions don’t happen in a vacuum anymore.
—William Jones
january 21, Miami Herald, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for in a vacuum
Cite this Entry
“In a vacuum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20a%20vacuum. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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