unoccupied
Americanadjective
-
without occupants; empty; vacant.
-
not held or controlled by invading forces.
unoccupied nations.
-
not busy or active; idle; not gainfully employed.
an unoccupied person.
-
without inhabitants; deserted.
adjective
-
(of a building) without occupants
-
unemployed or idle
-
(of an area or country) not overrun by foreign troops
Etymology
Origin of unoccupied
1350–1400; Middle English; see un- 1, occupy ( def. ), -ed 2 ( def. )
Vocabulary lists containing unoccupied
Novel Study: The Hobbit, Chapters 1–5
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Empty
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
On Wednesday an unoccupied Waymo robotaxi was reported trapped in flood water on a road in Atlanta.
From BBC • May 22, 2026
He also wants to penalize land bankers by seizing unoccupied properties or capping how much they can sell their land for.
From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026
With every incoming missile, officials must decide whether to let it fall in unoccupied areas or shoot it down, and if so with what system.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026
Of the area's 55,000 homes, nearly 6,000 were either second homes or long-term empty homes, which were defined as unoccupied and largely unfurnished.
From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026
Thinking about it as she wandered the halls of the empty lab, so quiet and unoccupied today, Claire found herself wondering, suddenly, if she would be able to apply for a spouse.
From "Son" by Lois Lowry
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
