power vacuum: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2 (Low Frequency, Advanced Vocabulary)Formal, Academic, Political/Geopolitical Analysis
Quick answer
What does “power vacuum” mean?
A situation where a person or group previously in control or authority has been removed, leaving a gap in which no single entity or authority has clear control.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A situation where a person or group previously in control or authority has been removed, leaving a gap in which no single entity or authority has clear control.
A state of instability and competition that arises in any organization, community, or geopolitical region when established leadership disappears, creating an opportunity for new forces to struggle for dominance.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or form. The spelling of related words may differ (e.g., 'behaviour' vs. 'behavior'), but the term itself is identical.
Connotations
Strongly associated with political science, history, and international relations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally used in serious journalism and analysis in both the UK and US.
Grammar
How to Use “power vacuum” in a Sentence
[verb] + a/the + power vacuum (e.g., create, fill)A power vacuum + [verb phrase] (e.g., emerged, developed)in/into + a/the + power vacuumVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “power vacuum” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The region was destabilised as factions sought to fill the power vacuum.
- The council's decision created a power vacuum in the organisation.
American English
- The region was destabilized as factions sought to fill the power vacuum.
- The board's resignation is sure to power-vacuum the entire department. (Note: highly informal/rare use as a verb)
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverbial form. Use prepositional phrases like 'in a power vacuum'.)
American English
- (No standard adverbial form.)
adjective
British English
- The power-vacuum situation was ripe for exploitation.
- We are in a power-vacuum period.
American English
- The power-vacuum scenario led to chaos.
- The company faced a power-vacuum crisis after the merger.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The sudden departure of the CEO created a power vacuum on the board, leading to internal rivalries.
Academic
The theory posits that a power vacuum following imperial collapse often leads to protracted conflict.
Everyday
When the manager quit, there was a bit of a power vacuum until they hired a replacement.
Technical
The geopolitical model predicts intervention by neighbouring states to fill any regional power vacuum.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “power vacuum”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “power vacuum”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “power vacuum”
- Using 'vacuum of power' (less common but not incorrect). Confusing it with 'power outage' (loss of electricity).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is primarily used in formal, academic, journalistic, and analytical contexts to describe political and organisational instability.
Absolutely. It is commonly used to describe the instability following the sudden departure of senior leadership in a company or organisation.
A 'leadership change' is a planned or orderly transition. A 'power vacuum' implies a sudden, unplanned absence of authority, leading to chaos and competition.
Yes, 'vacuum of power' is a grammatically correct and understood variant, though 'power vacuum' is the more frequent and standard collocation.
A situation where a person or group previously in control or authority has been removed, leaving a gap in which no single entity or authority has clear control.
Power vacuum: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpaʊə ˌvæk.juːm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpaʊɚ ˌvæk.juːm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Nature abhors a vacuum. (A common saying applied to this concept)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a vacuum cleaner sucking up the old leader (power), leaving an empty space (vacuum) that others rush to fill.
Conceptual Metaphor
POLITICAL SPACE IS PHYSICAL SPACE / AUTHORITY IS A SUBSTANCE THAT CAN BE REMOVED, LEAVING EMPTINESS.
Practice
Quiz
What is the most accurate definition of a 'power vacuum'?