horror vacui

UK/ˈhɒɹ.ə ˈvæ.kjuː.aɪ/US/ˈhɔɹ.ɚ ˈvæ.kju.aɪ/

noun

The Aristotelian principle that there are no vacuums in nature.

“The Where's Wally? series exhibits horror vacui.”

OriginLatin horror vacuī →
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Meanings

nounhorror vacui (uncountable)
  1. historicaluncountablesciencesThe Aristotelian principle that there are no vacuums in nature.
  2. uncountableThe abhorrence of a vacuum; the general tendency to dislike empty space.

    It is merely the horror vacui of human reason in general which leads it to recoil when it comes across an idea about which no thought is possible, […]

    1991, Kant: Political Writings, →ISBN, page 212
  3. uncountableartIn particular, the tendency of an artist (or of art) to fill an entire surface with detail, leaving no blank space.

    The Where's Wally? series exhibits horror vacui.

Origin

  1. Latinhorror vacuī“fear of empty space”
  2. Englishhorror vacui

From Latin horror vacuī (“fear of empty space”), from horror (“horror, fear”) + vacuum (“vacuum”).

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Latin natura abhorret a vacuo
  • natura abhorret a vacuoTranslations
Polish natura nie znosi próżni
  • natura nie znosi próżniTranslations
Portuguese horror vacui
  • horror vacuiTranslations
Spanish horror vacui, horror al vacío
  • horror vacuiTranslations
  • horror al vacíoTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

horror vacui. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/horror%20vacui

MLA

“horror vacui.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/horror%20vacui. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “horror vacui,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/horror%20vacui.

Source: horror vacui on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.