A cavityAn empty hollow area or a hole in a solid object. is an empty space or hollowHaving a hole or empty area inside; not solid throughout. inside something. It can also mean a hole in the ground, or a decayedDamaged and rotting, often because of decay or infection. hole in a tooth.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-30. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈkævɪti/
Easy pronunciation: CAV-ih-tee (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress on the first syllable.
Use this for the noun meaning an empty space or hollow inside something.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-30. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Cavity Meaning
a hollow space inside an object or structure
Part of speech: noun
Definition: an empty space or hollow inside something
Example: The tree trunk had a cavity inside it.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- enclosed space — Works for the general sense of a space surrounded by something.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-30. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Cavity
Meaning 2
a hole or deep hollow in the ground
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a sizeable hole, usually in the ground
Example: The workers dug a cavity in the rock.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- pit — A good substitute when referring to a hole in the ground.
Meaning 3
a decayed hole in a tooth
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a soft decayed area in a tooth; progressive decay can lead to the death of a tooth
Example: The dentist found a cavity in her molar.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- caries — Medical term for tooth decay, but more technical than everyday speech.
- dental caries — Formal clinical term for tooth decay.
- tooth decay — Common everyday term for this sense.
Meaning 4
a hollow space inside the body
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a natural hollow or sinus within the body
Example: The scan showed a cavity in the chest.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- bodily cavity — A direct match for the anatomical sense.
- cavum — Technical anatomical term; less common in general use.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-30. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Cavity Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- enclosed space
a sizeable hole, usually in the ground
- pit
a decayed area in a tooth
- tooth decay
- dental caries
- caries
a natural hollow or sinus within the body
- bodily cavity
- cavum
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-30. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Using cavity only for teeth. It can also mean any hollow space or a hole in the ground.
- Treating cavity as a synonym of all holes. It usually means an empty hollow or a decayed tooth, not every hole.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-30. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does cavity mean?
Cavity usually means an empty space or hollow inside something. It can also mean a hole in the ground or a decayed part of a tooth.
What is the most common meaning of cavity?
The most common everyday meaning is a hollow space or an empty opening inside something.
What are common synonyms for cavity?
For the general sense, a good synonym is enclosed space. Other senses have different synonyms, such as pit for a hole in the ground and tooth decay for the dental sense.
Is cavity the same as tooth decay?
Not exactly. A cavity is the hole or decayed area in a tooth, while tooth decay is the process or condition that causes it.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-30. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
