vacancy
noun
va·can·cy
ˈvā-kən(t)-sē 
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
Flores, who operates a private community center, said Caltrans’ neglect of its homes was unconscionable, especially when vacancies piled up, the freeway project was finally canceled in 2018 and The Island continued to grow.
—
Liam Dillon, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2024
The vacancy left by the medical group’s sudden closure has contributed to longer wait times for urgent care in the Boise area, according to Primary Health Medical Group.
—Darin Oswald, Idaho Statesman, 31 May 2024
The vice mayor will not run for reelection, creating a vacancy that could either bring in a council member aligned with the mayor or maintain the current state of polarization in the chambers.
—Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 29 May 2024
Escondido has 10 vacancies, Oceanside has 26 and Chula Vista has 19.
—Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for vacancy 
Liam Dillon, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2024
The vacancy left by the medical group’s sudden closure has contributed to longer wait times for urgent care in the Boise area, according to Primary Health Medical Group.
—Darin Oswald, Idaho Statesman, 31 May 2024
The vice mayor will not run for reelection, creating a vacancy that could either bring in a council member aligned with the mayor or maintain the current state of polarization in the chambers.
—Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 29 May 2024
Escondido has 10 vacancies, Oceanside has 26 and Chula Vista has 19.
—Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for vacancy
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vacancy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near vacancy
Cite this Entry
“Vacancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vacancy. Accessed 10 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
vacancy
noun
va·can·cy
ˈvā-kən-sē
plural vacancies
1
: something (as an office or hotel room) that is vacant
2
: empty space
3
: the state of being vacant
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share