vacancy

noun

va·​can·​cy ˈvā-kən(t)-sē 

plural vacancies

1

: a vacant office, post, or tenancy

2

a

: a vacating of an office, post, or piece of property

b

: the time such office or property is vacant

3

: physical or mental inactivity or relaxation : idleness

4

: empty space : void

specifically : an unoccupied site for an atom or ion in a crystal

5

: the state of being vacant : vacuity

6

archaic : an interval of leisure

Synonyms of vacancy

• emptiness
• void

Examples of vacancy in a Sentence

School administrators are trying to fill vacancies before the beginning of the school year.

There were no vacancies at the hotel.

Recent Examples on the Web

The affordable-housing crisis is a complex blend of problems, among them rent hikes outpacing wage growth, a historically low vacancy rate, and, per the Abundance crowd, a sluggish timeline for new development. —Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 23 Mar. 2026

For years, the board struggled with backlog issues, vacancies, turnover and a lack of meetings. —Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 23 Mar. 2026

Officials say the challenges are visible, from empty storefronts to reduced foot traffic, driven in part by office vacancies and shifting public perception. —Aaron Parseghian, CBS News, 23 Mar. 2026

The votes mark incremental progress toward resolving at least some of the vacancies that have fueled the dispute, particularly in Utah, where Holyoak’s interim status has become a flashpoint in the broader fight. —Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 22 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

vac(ant) + -ancy, in part after Medieval Latin vacantia

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 6

Kids Definition

vacancy

noun

va·​can·​cy ˈvā-kən-sē 

plural vacancies

1

: something (as an office or hotel room) that is vacant

2

: empty space

3

: the state of being vacant