vacuole

noun

vac·​u·​ole ˈva-kyə-ˌwōl 

1

: a small cavity or space in the tissues of an organism containing air or fluid

2

: a cavity or vesicle in the cytoplasm of a cell usually containing fluid see cell illustration

vacuolar

ˌva-kyə-ˈwō-lər 

-ˌlär

adjective

Examples of vacuole in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Caught between a vacuole and a hard place, the chloroplasts, nucleus, and other organelles are smushed against the plant cell’s rigid rectangular walls. — Quanta Magazine, 4 May 2026

Evidence suggests the worm’s specialized hemoglobin ferries sulfide to the same vacuoles, delivering the final ingredient for the worm’s deep-sea alchemy. — New Atlas, 16 Nov. 2025

Increasing the acidity inside the vacuole may decrease it outside the vacuole, causing enzymes there to work faster and wear out sooner, which may also help explain the higher death rate among these altered cells. — Byelizabeth Pennisi, science.org, 18 Apr. 2023

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, probably borrowed from New Latin vacuolum "little vacuum," from Medieval Latin vacuum vacuum entry 1 + Latin -olum, variant of -ulum -ule with stems ending in a vowel

First Known Use

1853, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing vacuole

• contractile vacuole
• food vacuole

Kids Definition

vacuole

noun

vac·​u·​ole ˈvak-yə-ˌwōl 

: a cavity in bodily tissues or in the cytoplasm of a cell that is usually filled with fluid

vacuolar

ˌvak-yə-ˈwō-lər 

-ˌlär

adjective

Medical Definition

vacuole

noun

vac·​u·​ole ˈvak-yə-ˌwōl 

1

: a small cavity or space in the tissues of an organism containing air or fluid

2

: a cavity or vesicle in the cytoplasm of a cell containing fluid