vacuous

Vacuous is an adjective used to describe something that lacks content, substance, or meaningful significance. It can refer to statements, arguments, or promises that are devoid of real value or depth, as well as to expressions or behavior that seem empty or thoughtless. Examples include a vacuous remark, a vacuous argument, or a vacuous smile.

Etymology and nuance: Vacuous derives from the Latin vacuus, meaning empty. In English, it has been used since the 17th century to denote emptiness of content or thought. The term is often employed to critique rhetoric that appears to have form or intention but lacks substance.

In philosophy, logic, and mathematics: The term has a specialized sense. A vacuous truth describes a universal claim or an implication that is true by virtue of there being no counterinstances or no relevant cases. For example, a statement about all members of an empty set is vacuously true. Similarly, a proposition with a false antecedent in logic can be considered vacuously true. The notion highlights a distinction between truth values that depend on content versus those arising from the absence of elements or evidence.

Usage notes: Vacuous is typically contrasted with terms like empty in a physical or emotional sense but carries a distinct emphasis on absence of content or meaning rather than mere lack of form. While “vacuum” refers to a physical emptiness, “vacuous” conveys a judgment about thought, significance, or logical content.

See also: vacuity, vacuity in logic, emptiness, hollow.