power vacuum

American  

[pou-er vak-yoom, -yoo-uhm, -yuhm] / ˈpaʊ ər ˌvæk jum, -ju əm, -jəm /

noun

1. a situation where there is a lack of leadership in a government or organization, often because an existing leader has left or been lost.

   The power vacuum left by the chairman’s sudden departure has created a bitter contest for control.

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Etymology

Origin of power vacuum

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

power vacuum

American combat troops left Iraq in 2011 but returned after the power vacuum led to the rise of IS in 2014.

From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026

James Fame Ndongo, a senior ruling party figure and higher education minister, dismissed claims of a power vacuum last month, insisting the president continued to oversee state affairs.

From Barron's ● Aug. 20, 2026

I spoke with my source in Isfahan and asked about the potential power vacuum.

From Slate ● Mar. 3, 2026

The NFL, meanwhile, has been unable to make any headway on headline issues such as expanding the regular season to 18 games because of the power vacuum inside the union.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 27, 2026

Durham’s police chief telephoned Mayor Evans for instructions, only to find that Evans had left town earlier that day, leaving a power vacuum at a critical time.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson