vacuum

American  

[vak-yoom, -yoo-uhm, -yuhm] / ˈvæk yum, -yu əm, -yəm /

noun

plural

vacuums, vacua

1. a space entirely devoid of matter.

2. an enclosed space from which matter, especially air, has been partially removed so that the matter or gas remaining in the space exerts less pressure than the atmosphere (opposed to plenum).

3. the state or degree of exhaustion in such an enclosed space.

4. a space not filled or occupied; emptiness; void.

   The loss left a vacuum in his heart.

5. a vacuum cleaner or sweeper.

6. Physics. a state of lowest energy in a quantum field theory.

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adjective

1. of, pertaining to, employing, or producing a vacuum.

2. (of a hollow container) partly exhausted of gas or air.

3. pertaining to a device or process that makes use of a vacuum to accomplish a desired task.

4. noting or pertaining to canning or packaging in which air is removed from the container to prevent deterioration of the contents.

verb (used with object)

1. to use a vacuum cleaner on; clean with a vacuum cleaner.

   to vacuum rugs.

2. to treat with any vacuum device, as a vacuum drier.

verb (used without object)

1. to use a vacuum cleaner.

   to vacuum in the dining room.

vacuum British  

/ ˈvækjʊəm /

noun

1. a region containing no matter; free space Compare plenum

2. a region in which gas is present at a low pressure

3. the degree of exhaustion of gas within an enclosed space

   a high vacuum

   a perfect vacuum

4. a sense or feeling of emptiness

   his death left a vacuum in her life

5. short for vacuum cleaner

6. (modifier) of, containing, measuring, producing, or operated by a low gas pressure

   a vacuum tube

   a vacuum brake

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verb

1. to clean (something) with a vacuum cleaner

   to vacuum a carpet

vacuum Scientific  

/ văk′yo̅o̅m /

plural

vacuums

1. A region of space in which there is no matter.

2. A region of space having extremely low gas pressure relative to surrounding pressure. The air pump of a vacuum cleaner, for example, drastically reduces the air pressure inside the device, creating a vacuum; the pressure difference causes air to rush into it, carrying dust and debris along with it.

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vacuum Cultural  

1. The absence of matter.

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Discover More

In the natural world, air will flow into regions of vacuum, giving rise to the saying “Nature abhors a vacuum.”

The saying is extended informally: in politics, a lack of leadership may be referred to as a vacuum, which will presumably be filled by others rushing in.

Other Word Forms

• nonvacuum adjective

Etymology

Origin of vacuum

First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin, neuter of vacuus “empty”

Explanation

A vacuum is essentially a great lack of something — a place where virtually all matter, even air, has been removed. It can describe something that's literally empty — or something that just seems that way, like a political vacuum. You probably have a vacuum at home. A humble household appliance named after a principle of physics, the vacuum is a device for sucking up dirt off the ground. It works by creating a vacuum — that is, it sucks all the air out of a particular place so that the surrounding atmospheric pressure will flood in, taking with it all the nacho chips, dog hair, toast crumbs, and whatever else you have lying around your house.

Example Sentences

Instead, it is tied to the nature of the vacuum, which is not empty space but a dynamic environment with a complex structure.

From Science Daily • Apr. 25, 2026

None of this is occurring in a vacuum.

From Salon • Apr. 23, 2026

Alexis de Tocqueville warned that without voluntary associations—churches, civic groups, local organizations—individuals would become atomized and government would fill the vacuum with what he called “soft despotism.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 19, 2026

And it's also worth noting the departure creates a vacuum in foreign policy - one of the few arenas where the prime minister is generally considered to have a decent record.

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026

“But seriously: Who gives someone a vacuum cleaner for Christmas?”

From "The Smartest Kid in the Universe" by Chris Grabenstein

Related Words

• gap
• void