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

In some border states, the decline reached 27%, a shift that local tourism agencies say is showing up in fewer tourists, more hotel vacancies, and weaker sales. —Dave Smith, Fortune, 10 Dec. 2025

The remaining board members may fill Randklev’s vacancy by appointment or through a special election, according to board policy. —Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Dec. 2025

According to Fed rules, the chair can be chosen only from among Fed governors, and there is currently no vacancy on the Board. —Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 8 Dec. 2025

Stein highlighted Patterson’s accomplishments in Raleigh, including reducing the number of vacancies and testing a backlog of rape kits. —Charlotte Observer, 5 Dec. 2025

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