Definition

Empty or unoccupied; containing nothing or no one; also, (of a look or expression) showing lack of thought, intelligence, or awareness.

Example Usage

The vacant apartment had been sitting empty for three years, its windows dark and its mailbox overflowing.

Origin

From Latin 'vacare' (to be empty), via Old French; the word has been used in English since the 13th century with consistent meaning.

Fun Fact

The phrase 'vacant stare' became a literary staple for depicting absent-mindedness or deep shock, appearing frequently in 19th-century novels.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)

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