What does vacuum mean?
A vacuum is, strictly speaking, a region of space containing little or no matter. The term became especially familiar through household vacuum cleaners, which remove dust and debris by creating suction; in this context, vacuum may also name the cleaner itself. More broadly, a vacuum is an absence or gap: a business may operate in a market vacuum, while a person may describe an isolated intellectual environment as “a vacuum.” The same word works as a verb in everyday British and American English: to vacuum means to clean with a vacuum cleaner. Its figurative uses often suggest not merely an absence, but a lack of activity, support, or ideas. Although vacuum is a familiar English word, it comes from Latin through modern scientific usage, and its literal scientific sense remains more exact than the metaphorical one.
A space containing little or no matter, especially one from which air or other material has been removed; a vacuum cleaner; or a figurative absence of people, activity, support, ideas, or opportunity.
"The damaged door allowed the room to approach a vacuum, draining the heated air within seconds."
The literal scientific and household-appliance senses coexist with widespread figurative uses referring to a lack of activity, authority, support, or ideas.
To clean a surface or room with a vacuum cleaner.
"He vacuumed the carpet before moving the furniture."
This is ordinary informal usage in both British and American English. It is transitive: a person vacuums a floor or carpet.
The standard plural of the noun is vacuums, with two syllables and the same stress pattern as the singular.
"Two powerful vacuums were running in the large conference hall."
In quantum physics, a vacuum is not an empty void: it is the lowest-energy state of a field and can still produce measurable effects.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of vacuum
Vacuum entered English in the early 17th century from modern Latin vacuum, the neuter form of Latin vacuus, meaning “empty.” Latin vacuus was derived from vacare, “to be empty,” which also underlies cognates such as vacuous, vacancy, and evacuate. Its early English use was associated with the developing scientific concept of an empty space, while later domestic and figurative senses developed from that literal meaning.
Related word forms
How vacuum is actually used
The literal noun sense is common in science, engineering, and manufacturing, whereas the absence or gap sense is especially frequent in journalism and discussion of politics, culture, or markets. As a verb, vacuum is natural everyday usage in British and American English and normally means to clean with a vacuum cleaner.
Easily confused with vacuum
A vacuum is a space or situation lacking matter or content, whereas something vacuous is lacking meaningful substance, significance, or intellectual content.