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 district’s 2% vacancy rate, with about 160 openings at the start of the month, is its lowest in recent memory. — Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026

Could Kleist’s conjecture provide a key to their seeming vacancy, their resignation, their helplessness, suggesting that in their benighted condition lies spiritual perfection? — Matthew McLean, Artforum, 22 Sep. 2026

Sacramento’s Front Street Animal Shelter has reduced its pending service requests by more than 90% after filling staffing vacancies and streamlining its processes. — Camryn Dadey, Sacbee.com, 22 Sep. 2026

The board faced another vacancy in November when longtime Commissioner Lynn Shue died. — Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 22 Sep. 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