vanity — English Dictionary

Noun

1. That which is vain, futile, or worthless; that which is of no value, use or profit.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   Then I said in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me and why then was I more wise? Then I said in my heart that this is also vanity. / For there is no more remembrance of the wise than the fool forever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.

2. Excessive pride in or admiration of one's own abilities, appearance, achievements, or possessions.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   To make a man in love with you gives an instant hold on his vanity; and with that, you can do any thing. Vanity is the real lever with which Archimedes said he could move the earth; so, try what you can effect with Sir Robert.

   It's not vanity, to me, it's my sanity

   Try to second guess what people see / All the time it's just your vanity / No one's impressed and you wonder why / Well it is, it shows in the eyes

   More examples (1)

   Social media hasn’t just weaponized our vanity—it’s transformed us from humans into curated digital performances. Our phones have become portable propaganda machines for our personal brands.

3. A dressing table used to apply makeup, preen, and coif hair, in which the table is normally quite low and similar to a desk.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   She was sitting in front of her vanity, brushing out her hair.

4. A washbasin installed into a permanently fixed storage unit, used as an item of bathroom furniture.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

5. Any idea, theory or statement that is without foundation.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Obsolete
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   It is a vanity to say that if two stones are dropped from a tower, the heavier will experience the greater acceleration.

   To help the matter, the alchemists call in likewise many vanities out of astrology.

Noun

1. feelings of excessive pride

   Synonyms

   amour propreconceitself-love

   Broader terms

   pridepridefulness

2. the quality of being valueless or futile

   Synonyms

   emptiness

   Broader terms

   worthlessnessineptitude

   Examples

   he rejected the vanities of the world

3. the trait of being unduly vain and conceited; false pride

   Synonyms

   conceitconceitedness

   Broader terms

   trait

4. low table with mirror or mirrors where one sits while dressing or applying makeup

   Synonyms

   dressing tabledressertoilet table

   Broader terms

   table