The　electrocatalytic　oxidation　reaction　plays　a　key　role　in　energy　conversion　and　storage　systems.　In　order　to　achieve　the　best　energy　efficiency　and　cost　competitiveness　in　these　systems,　a　comprehensive　understanding　of　the　strategic　design　of　electrocatalysts　and　the　underlying　mechanisms　is　essential.　Defect　engineering,　especially　the　incorporation　of　oxygen　vacancies　(OVs),　has　proven　to　be　an　effective　electrocatalyst　modification　strategy.　OVs　can　regulate　the　electronic　structures　of　metal　oxides　and　hydroxides,　generate　unsaturated　coordination　sites　on　the　surfaces　of　catalysts,　and　act　as　active　sites　to　significantly　accelerate　the　rates　of　electrocatalytic　reactions.　In　recent　years,　studies　have　shown　that　OVs　play　an　important　role　in　electrocatalytic　oxidation　reactions　such　as　the　oxidation　of　hydrocarbons,　alcohols　and　amines.　This　review　discusses　the　strategies　for　generating　OV　sites,　advanced　characterization　techniques　for　identifying　and　analyzing　OVs,　and　theoretical　calculations　to　elucidate　the　underlying　mechanisms.　In　addition,　the　application　of　OVs　in　the　electrocatalytic　process　is　particularly　emphasized,　which　is　crucial　for　elucidating　the　dynamic　evolution　of　OVs　in　the　reaction　process　and　further　promoting　the　design　of　efficient　electrocatalytic　systems.　We　believe　that　this　paper　will　provide　new　ideas　and　ways　to　promote　the　development　of　new　fields　such　as　OV　energy　conversion　and　environmental　protection.