vain

American  

[veyn] / veɪn /

adjective

vainer, vainest

1. excessively proud of or concerned about one's own appearance, qualities, achievements, etc.; conceited.

   a vain dandy.

   Synonyms:

   overweening, arrogant, proud, vainglorious, self-complacent, egotistic

   Antonyms:

   humble

2. proceeding from or showing pride in or concern about one's appearance, qualities, etc.; resulting from or displaying vanity.

   He made some vain remarks about his accomplishments.

3. ineffectual or unsuccessful; futile.

   vain hopes;

   a vain effort;

   a vain war.

   Synonyms:

   unavailing, fruitless

   Antonyms:

   useful

4. without real significance, value, or importance; baseless or worthless.

   vain pageantry;

   vain display.

   Synonyms:

   nugatory, trifling, trivial

5. Archaic. senseless or foolish.

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idioms

1. in vain,

   1. without effect or avail; to no purpose.

      lives lost in vain;

      to apologize in vain.

   2. in an improper or irreverent manner.

      to take God's name in vain.

vain British  

/ veɪn /

adjective

1. inordinately proud of one's appearance, possessions, or achievements

2. given to ostentatious display, esp of one's beauty

3. worthless

4. senseless or futile

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noun

1. to no avail; fruitlessly

2. 1. to use the name of someone, esp God, without due respect or reverence

   2. humorous to mention someone's name

vain More Idioms  

1. see in vain; take someone's name in vain.

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Related Words

See useless.

Other Word Forms

• unvain adjective
• unvainness noun
• vainly adverb
• vainness noun

Etymology

Origin of vain

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin vānus “empty, vain”

Explanation

If you spend all day admiring yourself in reflective surfaces — mirrors, pools of water, the backs of spoons — people may think you are conceited, or vain. Vain is from Latin vanus, "empty," and in English it originally meant "lacking value or effect, futile," like your vain attempt to find a pencil in your messy, overstuffed backpack. Likewise, the phrase "in vain" means "without success." Vain also means "conceited, too proud of oneself." Carly Simon's line "You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you" is an excellent illustration of this use.

Example Sentences

At the Civilian Protection Center of Excellence, the staff tried in vain to save the program.

From Salon • Mar. 11, 2026

In vain in the end, but not forgotten.

From BBC • Mar. 5, 2026

The last few hours were all in vain.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026

The IOC said its president, Kirsty Coventry, had spoken with Heraskevych on Thursday morning in a vain bid to make him change his mind.

From Barron's • Feb. 12, 2026

It was quite in vain for me to endeavour to make him sensible that he ought to speak to Miss Havisham.

From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens

Related Words

• frivolous
• fruitless
• petty
• trivial