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plural cavities
1
: an unfilled space within a mass
especially
: a hollowed-out space
2
: an area of decay in a tooth : caries
Synonyms
Examples of cavity in a Sentence
Some birds nest in tree cavities.
I had two cavities filled at the dentist's.
Recent Examples on the Web
Over the centuries, the decomposing bodies left cavities inside the hardened mineral casings.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Jan. 2025
The five-year survival rate for all types of oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers is 91%—meaning that 91% of people with lip cancer are still alive five years after their diagnosis.
—Carrie Madormo, Rn, Health, 31 Dec. 2024
Patients with cancers of the salivary glands, nasal cavity/ear/sinuses, and overlapping head and neck cancers were excluded.
—New Atlas, 30 Dec. 2024
Follow-up studies in these communities over 13-15 years showed a 50-70% reduction in cavities, per the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
—Axios, 20 Dec. 2024
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Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Middle French & Late Latin; Middle French cavité, borrowed from Late Latin cavitāt-, cavitās, from Latin cavus "hollow, concave" + -itāt-, -itās -ity — more at hole entry 1
First Known Use
1541, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing cavity
Dictionary Entries Near cavity
Cite this Entry
“Cavity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cavity. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.
Kids Definition
cavity
noun
cav·i·ty
ˈkav-ət-ē
plural cavities
1
: a hollow place
especially
: an unfilled bodily space
lung cavity
2
: a hole hollowed out in a tooth by decay
More from Merriam-Webster on cavity
Nglish: Translation of cavity for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of cavity for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cavity
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