vacancy

noun

va·can·cy | \ ˈvā-kən(t)-sē

plural vacancies

Definition of vacancy

1 : a vacant office, post, or tenancy

2a : 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 Example Sentences Learn More about vacancy

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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 Senate confirmed Michael Desmond as chief counsel of the IRS, filling an administration vacancy that had lasted for more than two years. — Richard Rubin, WSJ, "Senate Confirms Trump Pick for Top IRS Lawyer," 27 Feb. 2019 General manager Les Snead has big calls to make on soon-to-be free agents and roster vacancies. — Greg Beacham, The Seattle Times, "McVay looks to future after Rams’ ride derails in Super Bowl," 4 Feb. 2019 Crystal City and Long Island City have high office vacancy rates and are both cheaper places to buy homes than Seattle. — Recode Staff, Recode, "Recode Daily: Democrats take the House, San Francisco votes for a homelessness tax on big business," 7 Nov. 2018 The city council’s Working Families Party members have tapped Claudine Rachel Fox to fill the vacancy left by Cynthia Jennings, who resigned amid a controversy over her party affiliation. — Jenna Carlesso, Courant Community, "Hartford Council Members Name Replacement For Cynthia Jennings," 21 June 2018 President Trump has nominated Rossie D. Alston Jr. to be a district court judge in the Eastern District of Virginia, moving to fill a vacancy created in November when judge Gerald Bruce Lee retired. — Rachel Weiner, Washington Post, "Rossie Alston nominated as judge for Eastern District of Virginia," 9 June 2018 The ballot in Alabama includes incumbent Republican Governor Kay Ivey who is running for a full term in office after filling the vacancy left by the resignation of former Gov. Robert Bentley in 2017. — CBS News, "2018 Primary day election results -- live updates," 5 June 2018 Battah fills a vacancy left by Jenny Anchondo, who left the station in March. — Robert Philpot, star-telegram, "Fox 4's new weekend morning anchor is making a name for herself | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 23 May 2018 Venezuela’s constitution says a vacancy in the president’s seat is to be filled by the head of the national Legislature until new elections are called. — Maolis Castro, WSJ, "U.S. Recognizes Venezuelan Opposition Leader as Interim President," 23 Jan. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'vacancy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.