vacancy

noun

va·​can·​cy ˈvā-kən(t)-sē How to pronounce vacancy (audio)
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

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
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.
The new agenda item calls for the board to discuss and determine the process and timeline to fill the board vacancy. Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 23 Oct. 2025 Such was the case for Carollo, who was elected to his first of two terms as mayor in 1996 to fill the vacancy created by the death of Mayor Stephen Clark. Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2025 Clinton nominated her to the federal bench in January 1994 to fill the vacancy left by Judge Falcon Black Hawkins Jr. Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025 The South Lake City Council is scheduled to meet Tuesday to discuss selecting a new mayor and to address board vacancies once occupied by Wallace. Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 21 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for vacancy

Word History

Etymology

vac(ant) + -ancy, in part after Medieval Latin vacantia

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 6

Time Traveler
The first known use of vacancy was in 1598

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Vacancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vacancy. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

vacancy

noun
va·​can·​cy ˈvā-kən-sē How to pronounce vacancy (audio)
plural vacancies
1
: something (as an office or hotel room) that is vacant
2
: empty space
3
: the state of being vacant

More from Merriam-Webster on vacancy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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