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

At the same time, retail and hospitality cut vacancies at a faster rate than a year ago. —Irina Anghel, Bloomberg, 9 Mar. 2026

Uthmeier is now Florida attorney general, appointed to a vacancy by DeSantis, and is up for election this fall. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2026

Commercial vacancy rates are low, and the city has relatively little high-quality office space. —Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 7 Mar. 2026

Costa Mesa has used an average of 52 beds per day over the past two months, resulting in a vacancy rate of 28 beds per day, according to data city staff presented to the council this week. —Claire Wang, Oc Register, 6 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