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

• 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 that situation, under new rules passed by the council last year, the City Council would select a council president, who would fill the vacancy and become mayor. —Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 30 Oct. 2025

The vacancy rates for both rentals and for-sale housing has increased. —Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 30 Oct. 2025

In July, Crumby, who was Irvine’s assistant city manager at the time, was asked to fill in the vacancy left by Oliver Chi, who accepted the city manager position with Santa Monica. —Victoria Le, Oc Register, 29 Oct. 2025

In its initial budget plan, MPS planned to save about $76 million from unfilled vacancies during this school year. —Rory Linnane, jsonline.com, 29 Oct. 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