vagrancy Hear it!

vagrancy Definition

va·grancy (vā′grən sē)

noun pl. vagrancies -·cies

  1. Now Rare a wandering in thought or talk; digression
  2. a wandering from place to place; vagabondage
  3. shiftless or idle wandering without money or work, as of tramps, beggars, etc.: often a statutory offense chargeable as a misdemeanor

Etymology: < vagrant

vagrancy Synonyms

vagrancy

n.

itinerancy, roving, vagabondage, homelessness, shiftlessness.

vagrancy Law Definition

n

A vague, poorly delineated set of minor offenses (dating from the downfall of feudalism in England, when there was an acute shortage of laborers), such as being in a condition of unemployment, wandering from place to place with no apparent purpose, and having no visible means of support. More recently, the police have utilized vagrancy statutes for arresting persons thought to have committed a crime, when lack of probable cause for the person’s arrest is lacking. Vagrancy statutes have not been well received by the courts, due to their abuse, and have often been declared unconstitutional due to their vagueness, and their ignoring of due process.
vagrancy Usage Examples

Adjective modifier

  • natural: The date and west coast location are consistent with natural vagrancy from North America.

Modifies a noun

  • law: Many became homeless, wandering the country, prey to the vicious Tudor vagrancy laws.
  • pass: Vagrancy Passes were issued to permit a pauper to travel across parishes, usually as part of a Removal Order.

Browse dictionary entries near vagrancy

  1. ‹ vagrancies
  2. ‹ vagotropic
  3. ‹ vagotonic
  4. ‹ vagotonia
  5. ‹ vagotomy
  6. ‹ vagotomies
  7. ‹ vagodepressor
  8. ‹ vago-
  9. ‹ vagino-
  10. ‹ vaginitis
  1. vagrant ›
  2. vagrantly ›
  3. vagrom ›
  4. vague ›
  5. vaguely ›
  6. vagueness ›
  7. vaguer ›
  8. vaguest ›
  9. vagus ›
  10. vagus nerve ›