ˈvākənsē, -si noun
( -es )
Etymology: Medieval Latin vacantia, from Latin vacant-, vacans (present participle of vacare to be empty, be free) + -ia -y
1. archaic : time of freedom from occupation : an interval of leisure : leisure , vacation
those little vacancies from toil are sweet — John Dryden
2. : the state or fact of being free from occupation or from mental preoccupation : physical or mental inactivity or relaxation : idleness
3.
a. : a vacating of an office, post, or piece of property
b. : the state of such when vacated or vacant
c. : the time such office or property is vacant
the death of the incumbent has caused a vacancy
in case of vacancy of the property
4. : a vacant office, post, or tenancy
three vacancies in this apartment house
the president shall have power to fill up all vacancies that may happen during the recess of the senate — U.S. Constitution
5. : empty space : void , vacuum , blank
6. : the state of being vacant : barrenness , loneliness , vacuity
a vacancy of sound after the train had left — J.P.Marquand
7. : a defect existing in a crystal due to the absence of an atom or ion from a normal lattice position — called also hole