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.
DoBetterDNVR seeks to hold city government accountable for enabling lawless behavior like vagrancy, public drug use, urban camping, and vandalism by exposing and posting it, a laudable aim, but its means are less than ethical. Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 19 Aug. 2025 The rise in vagrancy, open drug use, aggressive panhandling, indecent exposure and public health hazards have made downtown residents feel increasingly unsafe in their own city. Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 11 Aug. 2025 Rustin served jail time and was posthumously pardoned Rustin was arrested 23 times, including a 1953 conviction in Pasadena, for vagrancy and lewd conduct — charges commonly used then to criminalize LGBTQ+ people. Jaylen Green, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2025 They were arrested on marijuana and lewd vagrancy charges. Victoria Edel, People.com, 18 May 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 10 Sep. 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

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