vacuousEnglishOxford Dictionary of Englishvacuous /ˈvakjʊəs / ▸ adjective 1 having or showing a lack of thought or intelligence; mindless: a vacuous smile vacuous slogans. 2 archaic empty. – DERIVATIVES vacuously /ˈvakjʊəsli / adverb vacuousness /ˈvakjʊəsnəs / noun– ORIGIN mid 17th century (in the sense ‘empty of matter’): from Latin vacuus ‘empty’ + -ous.