vagrancy

noun

va·​gran·​cy ˈvā-grən(t)-sē How to pronounce vagrancy (audio)
plural vagrancies
1
: the state or action of being vagrant
2
: the offense of being a vagrant
3
: vagary

Examples of vagrancy in a Sentence

a frequent victim to the vagrancies of the heart, she had a succession of passionate but short-lived romances
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
By a vote of six to three, the justices empowered cities to enforce laws prohibiting camping and vagrancy, dealing a blow to advocates who argue that the lack of affordable housing is driving a dramatic increase in the unhoused population. Ella Howard / Made By History, TIME, 10 July 2024 Some neighbors who had initially been supportive of that leasing arrangement said that the situation deteriorated with time, as loitering men came to check on their girlfriends and other signs of vagrancy, littering and drug use escalated. Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 20 May 2024 In 1972, the Supreme Court overturned a Jacksonville, Florida, law prohibiting vagrancy. Claire Thornton, USA TODAY, 17 Apr. 2024 The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear an appeal challenging a judicial ruling that established a de facto constitutional right to vagrancy. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 12 Jan. 2024 See all Example Sentences for vagrancy 

Word History

First Known Use

1641, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of vagrancy was in 1641

Dictionary Entries Near vagrancy

Cite this Entry

“Vagrancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vagrancy. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

vagrancy

noun
va·​gran·​cy ˈvā-grən(t)-sē How to pronounce vagrancy (audio)
plural vagrancies
: the state or action of being vagrant

Legal Definition

vagrancy

noun
va·​gran·​cy ˈvā-grən-sē How to pronounce vagrancy (audio)
plural vagrancies
1
: the act or practice of wandering about from place to place
2
: the crime of wandering about without employment or identifiable means of support
the court struck down the vagrancy law as unconstitutionally vague

Note: Most vagrancy laws have been abolished.

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