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adj. 1. a. Containing nothing; empty: vacant space. b. Not occupied or put to use: a vacant row of seats. c. Without an incumbent or occupant; unfilled: a vacant position. 2. Law Lacking an identified heir: a vacant estate. 3. a. Lacking intelligence or knowledge: a vacant mind. b. Lacking expression; blank: a vacant stare. [Middle English, from Old French, from Latin vacāns, vacant-, present participle of vacāre, to be empty; see euə- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] vacant·ly adv. vacant·ness n. |
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