vacancy

American  

[vey-kuhn-see] / ˈveɪ kən si /

noun

plural

vacancies

1. the state of being vacant; emptiness.

2. a vacant, empty, or unoccupied place, as untenanted lodgings or offices.

   This building still has no vacancies.

3. a gap; opening; breach.

4. an unoccupied position or office.

   a vacancy on the Supreme Court.

5. lack of thought or intelligence; vacuity.

   a look of utter vacancy.

6. Crystallography. (in a crystal) an imperfection resulting from an unoccupied lattice position.

7. Archaic. absence of activity; idleness.

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vacancy British  

/ ˈveɪkənsɪ /

noun

1. the state or condition of being vacant or unoccupied; emptiness

2. an unoccupied post or office

   we have a vacancy in the accounts department

3. an unoccupied room in a boarding house, hotel, etc

   put the "No Vacancies" sign in the window

4. lack of thought or intelligent awareness; inanity

   an expression of vacancy on one's face

5. physics a defect in a crystalline solid caused by the absence of an atom, ion, or molecule from its position in the crystal lattice

6. obsolete idleness or a period spent in idleness

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Other Word Forms

• nonvacancy noun

Etymology

Origin of vacancy

From the Medieval Latin word vacantia, dating back to 1570–80. See vacant, -ancy

Example Sentences

The Graham Georgetown has vacancies from $422 a night and will be hosting a rooftop fireworks watch party.

From The Wall Street Journal

The labor market has weakened as a result, with job vacancies down nearly 7% in January from 12 months ago—which may, in turn, keep inflation in check.

From The Wall Street Journal

OTTAWA—The Bank of Canada said Monday that two members of its rate-setting governing council are departing, and it intends to fill the vacancies internally.

From The Wall Street Journal

The arrangement propped up the chains, prevented large vacancies in Simon malls and turned out to be moneymakers for the company.

From The Wall Street Journal

Note: Paul Volcker is not shown because he was nominated to fill an unexpected vacancy when Miller was chosen to become the Treasury secretary in 1979.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• gap
• job
• vacuum
• void