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
What concerns Baker is that none of these decisions are made in a vacuum.
—
Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
None are stories that, in a vacuum, most news outlets would cover.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 31 Jan. 2026
The case did not emerge in a vacuum.
—Israel Melendez Ayala, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
But tactical developments do not exist in a vacuum.
—Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for in a vacuum
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026
None are stories that, in a vacuum, most news outlets would cover.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 31 Jan. 2026
The case did not emerge in a vacuum.
—Israel Melendez Ayala, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
But tactical developments do not exist in a vacuum.
—Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 30 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 10 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
