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

The commission just closed nominations for existing vacancies, but anyone interested in learning more or joining the commission when there is a vacancy can visit sandiego.gov/cpp. —Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025

In Detroit, vacancy rates in these properties fell from 5.4% to just 1.3% by the end of 2024. —Gleb Tsipursky, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2025

Even in downtown San Diego, California's office vacancy rate increased by almost 30%, the highest percentage seen in the last two decades. —Dr. Dick Bridy, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025

Currently, Republicans have a seven-seat edge in the House, with four vacancies. —Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 14 Aug. 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