vacancy

noun

va·​can·​cy ˈvā-kən(t)-sē How to pronounce vacancy (audio)
plural vacancies
Synonyms of vacancynext
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.
Crumby was promoted internally to fill a vacancy left by predecessor Oliver Chi, who accepted the city manager position with Santa Monica. Victoria Le, Oc Register, 19 May 2026 Currently, Georgia has nine Republican representatives and four democrats in office, with one vacancy in the 14th district. Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 18 May 2026 Downtown Denver is struggling with vacancy rates closer to 40%, while the metro area is just under 30%, according to CBRE. Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 18 May 2026 Seven vacancies will be kept open. David Folkenflik, NPR, 18 May 2026 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 21 May. 2026.

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

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