cavity

noun

cav·​i·​ty ˈka-və-tē 

plural cavities

1

: an unfilled space within a mass

especially : a hollowed-out space

2

: an area of decay in a tooth : caries

Synonyms of cavity

• hole
• dent
• pit
• concavity

Examples of cavity in a Sentence

Some birds nest in tree cavities.

I had two cavities filled at the dentist's.

Recent Examples on the Web

The resulting cavities are filled with dedicated acoustic damping material to control unwanted internal reflections. — Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

Doggy dens and cat cubbies Cozy sleeping nooks built into under-stair cavities, cabinet bases, or custom millwork, giving pets a den of their own that disappears into the architecture. — Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 8 July 2026

When removing the patient’s lungs, Northwestern surgeons work carefully to avoid spilling cancer cells into the chest cavity or blood stream — drawing on lessons learned from performing lung transplants on patients with COVID-19 during the pandemic. — Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2026

The pair were pushed into the body wherever swelling threatened a patient’s health, or exploration of an inner cavity was warranted. — Katherine Ott, The Conversation, 2 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French cavité, borrowed from Late Latin cavitāt-, cavitās, from Latin cavus "hollow, concave" + -itāt-, -itās -ity — more at hole entry 1

First Known Use

1541, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing cavity

• abdominal cavity
• body cavity
• pelvic cavity
• segmentation cavity
• spinal cavity
• thoracic cavity

Rhymes for cavity

• gravity
• concavity
• depravity
• intracavity
• microgravity
• supergravity

Kids Definition

cavity

noun

cav·​i·​ty ˈkav-ət-ē 

plural cavities

1

: a hollow place

especially : an unfilled bodily space

lung cavity

2

: a hole hollowed out in a tooth by decay

Medical Definition

cavity

noun

cav·​i·​ty ˈkav-ət-ē 

plural cavities

1

: an unfilled space within a mass

2

: an area of decay in a tooth : caries