noun
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the state or condition of being a vagrant
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the conduct or mode of living of a vagrant
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of vagrancy
Explanation
Vagrancy is a legal term that's used to talk about people who are experiencing homelessness. In many places, the category of vagrancy includes things like loitering and panhandling. Arresting people for vagrancy — essentially for not having a permanent home — has been controversial for a long time in the U.S. Opponents consider such a charge to be unconstitutional, since it's not a crime to be so poor or disenfranchised that you don't have a place to live and must rely on charity. Still, many people connect vagrancy with crime and laziness. The Germanic root of this word means "wander."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Maybe there’s a connection between population flight and vagrancy.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
In essence, it was a vagrancy ordinance by another name.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2025
Once released from prison, she emigrated to New York where in 1902 there is a record of her being placed in a workhouse as punishment for vagrancy.
From BBC ● May 22, 2025
Although camping has generally been regulated by local vagrancy laws, Texas passed a statewide ban last year.
From Seattle Times ● May 21, 2022
Lafayette’s reputation in the black community was raised another notch when he went to court to fight his arrest and jailing on a false charge of vagrancy.
From "Because They Marched" by Russell Freedman
For now he would divert me to another topic and again bring me back to her, so that it all seemed the vagrancies of a boy's inconsequent chatter.
From Ensign Knightley and Other Stories by A. E. W. (Alfred Edward Woodley) Mason
Her truancies and vagrancies concerned them not: she was a law to herself, like the birds and squirrels.
From Openings in the Old Trail by Bret Harte
Perhaps Uncle Contarine continued clement merely because in the nature of things his responsibilities for the vagrancies of his kinsman were inevitably less intimate.
From Oliver Goldsmith by E. S. Lang Buckland
If we would have our hearts calm, we must let Him guide them, sway them, curb their vagrancies, stimulate their desires, and satisfy the desires which He has stimulated.
From Expositions of Holy Scripture Second Corinthians, Galatians, and Philippians Chapters I to End. Colossians, Thessalonians, and First Timothy. by Alexander Maclaren
Old vagrancies awoke, and he resolved that, dearly as he loved his house, he would not enter it again till dawn.
From The Longest Journey by E. M. (Edward Morgan) Forster
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