Pronunciation: [kˈavɪti] (IPA) 
Cavity is spelled with an "a" after the "v" instead of an "i" because the "v" sound is actually pronounced as a voiced bilabial fricative /v/. In English, the "v" sound can never be followed by the letter "i". Instead, the letter "a" is used to represent the short /æ/ sound. The IPA phonetic transcription for cavity is /ˈkæv.ə.ti/. This word refers to a hollow space or a hole in the body or other object.
A cavity is a hollow space or a depression in an object, structure, or part of the body. It can refer to various contexts and has several specific meanings depending on the field it is used in.
In a general sense, a cavity is an empty or vacant area within an object or a structure. For instance, in construction and engineering, a cavity refers to a space or gap deliberately created to enhance insulation, ventilation, or soundproofing within walls or floors.
In the medical field, the term cavity commonly refers to an abnormal opening or empty area within the body. It can denote dental or oral cavities, which are hollow spaces or decayed regions within teeth caused by dental caries or tooth decay. Dental cavities can lead to pain, sensitivity, and the need for dental fillings or restorations.
Moreover, in anatomy, cavity also refers to large openings within the body, such as the thoracic cavity, abdominal cavity, or cranial cavity, which house vital organs like the heart, lungs, liver, and brain, respectively.
Furthermore, in geology, a cavity refers to an underground space or void formed by erosion, dissolution, or volcanic activity. This can include caves, sinkholes, or lava tubes.
In summary, a cavity is a generic term used to describe a hollow space, opening, or depression occurring in various contexts, including construction, medicine, anatomy, and geology.
A hollow space.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
• A hollow in anything.
• See cave.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "cavity" originated from the Latin word "cavus", meaning "hollow" or "concave". This Latin term was then adopted into the Old French language as "cavité" and later entered Middle English as "cavity" in the 15th century.
