WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
va•cant /ˈveɪkənt/USA pronunciation
adj.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- having no contents;
empty. - having no occupant;
unoccupied:a vacant seat. - not in use:a vacant warehouse.
- lacking in intelligence:a vacant expression.
- not occupied by an incumbent, official, or the like, as a political office:a vacant senate seat.
va•cant
(vā′kənt),USA pronunciation adj.
va′cant•ly, adv.
va′cant•ness, n.
- having no contents;
empty;
void:a vacant niche. - having no occupant;
unoccupied:no vacant seats on this train. - not in use:a vacant room.
- devoid of thought or reflection:a vacant mind.
- characterized by, showing, or proceeding from lack of thought or intelligence:a vacant answer; a vacant expression on a face.
- not occupied by an incumbent, official, or the like, as a benefice or office.
- free from work, business, activity, etc.:vacant hours.
- characterized by or proceeding from absence of occupation:a vacant life.
- devoid or destitute (often fol. by of ):He was vacant of human sympathy.
- Law
- having no tenant and devoid of furniture, fixtures, etc. (distinguished from unoccupied):a vacant house.
- idle or unutilized;
open to any claimant, as land. - without an incumbent;
having no heir or claimant;
abandoned:a vacant estate.
- Latin vacant- (stem of vacāns, present participle of vacāre to be empty); see -ant
- Middle English 1250–1300
va′cant•ness, n.
- 1, 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged See empty.
- 5.See corresponding entry in Unabridged blank, vacuous, inane.