vacuity

American  

[va-kyoo-i-tee, vuh-] / væˈkyu ɪ ti, və- /

noun

plural

vacuities

1. the state of being vacuous or without contents; vacancy; emptiness.

   the vacuity of the open sea.

2. absence of thought or intelligence; inanity; blankness.

   a mind of undeniable vacuity.

3. a time or state of dullness, lacking in mental or physical action or productivity.

   the vacuity of modern existence.

4. an empty space; void.

   a vacuity in the earth formed by erosion.

5. absence or lack of something specified.

   a vacuity of feeling.

6. something inane, senseless, or stupid.

   conversation full of vacuities.

7. a vacuum.

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vacuity British  

/ væˈkjuːɪtɪ /

noun

1. the state or quality of being vacuous; emptiness

2. an empty space or void; vacuum

3. a lack or absence of something specified

   a vacuity of wind

4. lack of normal intelligence or awareness; vacancy

   his stare gave an impression of complete vacuity

5. something, such as a statement, saying, etc, that is inane or pointless

6. (in customs terminology) the difference in volume between the actual contents of a container and its full capacity

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Etymology

Origin of vacuity

First recorded in 1535–45; from Latin vacuitās; see vacuous, -ity

Explanation

When you refer to something that is not there, you can refer to its vacuity. A stern teacher who is criticizing an empty-headed English essay might talk about its vacuity, or the absence of any real substance. This abstract noun is derived from the adjective vacuous, which means "like or of a vacuum." Vacuity is rarely used to refer to actual vacuums; it is instead used to disparage arguments, morals, and undertakings that lack proper substance. These transferred meanings are more common for the adjective as well. Use them both sparingly: they are nearly always a marker that you have your judgment hat on!

Example Sentences

Touching Vacuity, he conceives, that the Bodies, which compose a mass, are not every where so near one another, as not to leave some interval in several places.

From Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society - Vol 1 - 1666 Giving some Accompt of the present Undertakings, Studies, and Labours of the Ingenious in many considerable parts of the World by Oldenburg, Henry

This is the method of Vacuity or Dawdling formerly mentioned.

From Assimilative Memory or, How to Attend and Never Forget by Loisette, A. (Alphonse)

A method of Vacuity pure and simple—the exact opposite of Mental Assimilation.

From Assimilative Memory or, How to Attend and Never Forget by Loisette, A. (Alphonse)

In Egypt, this second Principle was Matter, as the word was used by the Platonic School, with its sad attributes, Vacuity, Darkness, and Death.

From Morals and Dogma of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry by Pike, Albert