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
In Charlotte’s case, the vacancy was filled by the Charlotte Bobcats which were later renamed the Charlotte Hornets again, and Baltimore got the Ravens, which had relocated from Cleveland.
—
Corina Vanek, The Arizona Republic, 17 Apr. 2024
Briggs, who spoke prior to Smith’s departure for Portland, said the recent vacancies have given the department and the city something of a clean slate.
—Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for vacancy 
Corina Vanek, The Arizona Republic, 17 Apr. 2024
Briggs, who spoke prior to Smith’s departure for Portland, said the recent vacancies have given the department and the city something of a clean slate.
—Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 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 3 May. 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
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