in a vacuum

idiom

: separated from outside events or influences

The group was operating in a vacuum, cut off from the rest of the world.

The city's riots did not happen in a vacuum. They were caused by recent political events.

Examples of in a vacuum in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web But the question is asked in a vacuum, with no context. —

Maria Cardona, Sun Sentinel, 30 June 2024 Unfortunately for Cabello, her music simply doesn’t exist in a vacuum. —

Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 29 June 2024 Presidential debates don’t happen in a vacuum, and perceptions of or support for the candidates might shift for many reasons. —

Philip Bump, Washington Post, 27 June 2024 This little unit also features a stainless steel filter, plus a HEPA filter for high filtration and efficiency, a feature often overlooked in a vacuum this size. —

Christina Shepherd McGuire, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for in a vacuum

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'in a vacuum.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.