vagrancy

noun

va·​gran·​cy ˈvā-grən(t)-sē How to pronounce vagrancy (audio)
plural vagrancies
1
: the state or action of being vagrant
2
: the offense of being a vagrant
3
: vagary

Examples of vagrancy in a Sentence

a frequent victim to the vagrancies of the heart, she had a succession of passionate but short-lived romances
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
They were arrested on marijuana and lewd vagrancy charges. Victoria Edel, People.com, 18 May 2025 Roughly 12% were of African descent — newly unshackled, technically free and already being legally recaptured under other names: peonage, vagrancy laws, convict leasing. Jack Hill, Baltimore Sun, 17 May 2025 All the hallmarks of American poverty — bad food, obesity and urban blight — coalesced in an apocalyptic scene of destitution and vagrancy. Andrew Moore, New York Times, 15 May 2025 The law also mandates the special taxing district’s priorities with a focus on eliminating crime, eliminating vagrancy and improving cleanliness. Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for vagrancy

Word History

First Known Use

1641, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of vagrancy was in 1641

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Vagrancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vagrancy. Accessed 28 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

vagrancy

noun
va·​gran·​cy ˈvā-grən(t)-sē How to pronounce vagrancy (audio)
plural vagrancies
: the state or action of being vagrant

Legal Definition

vagrancy

noun
va·​gran·​cy ˈvā-grən-sē How to pronounce vagrancy (audio)
plural vagrancies
1
: the act or practice of wandering about from place to place
2
: the crime of wandering about without employment or identifiable means of support
the court struck down the vagrancy law as unconstitutionally vague

Note: Most vagrancy laws have been abolished.

More from Merriam-Webster on vagrancy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!