unoccupied

American  

[uhn-ok-yuh-pahyd] / ʌnˈɒk yəˌpaɪd /

adjective

1. without occupants; empty; vacant.

2. not held or controlled by invading forces.

   unoccupied nations.

3. not busy or active; idle; not gainfully employed.

   an unoccupied person.

4. without inhabitants; deserted.

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unoccupied British  

/ ʌnˈɒkjʊˌpaɪd /

adjective

1. (of a building) without occupants

2. unemployed or idle

3. (of an area or country) not overrun by foreign troops

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Etymology

Origin of unoccupied

1350–1400; Middle English; un- ¹, occupy ( def. ), -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

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

The United States has already sent a mission to assess the embassy in Caracas, which has been largely unoccupied for the past six years.

From Barron's • Jan. 31, 2026

"We are aware that a number of private properties have been affected, but fortunately they were unoccupied at the time," said Cyngor Gwynedd.

From BBC • Dec. 20, 2025

Many of the homes left structurally standing have been unoccupied.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 4, 2025

I knew full well that the next few weeks were going to be an agony of waiting and that leaving myself unoccupied would make things much, much worse.

From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly

Related Words

• deserted
• unfilled
• uninhabited
• unused
• vacant