Vanity Fair

American  

noun

1. (in Bunyan'sPilgrim's Progress ) a fair that goes on perpetually in the town of Vanity and symbolizes worldly ostentation and frivolity.

2. (often lowercase) any place or group, as the world or fashionable society, characterized by or displaying a preoccupation with idle pleasures or ostentation.

3. (italics) a novel (1847–48) by Thackeray.

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Vanity Fair British  

noun

1. literary (often not capitals) the social life of a community, esp of a great city, or the world in general, considered as symbolizing worldly frivolity

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Vanity Fair Cultural  

1. (1847–1848) A novel by the English author William Makepeace Thackeray. The leading character is Becky Sharp, an unscrupulous woman who gains wealth and influence by her cleverness.

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Etymology

Origin of Vanity Fair

from Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Vanity Fair

“I think the optics are obvious,” the Emmy award-winning actor told Vanity Fair in an interview published Thursday.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026

The deals bring recognizable digital and print media brands onto Netflix's platform, including Vanity Fair, Vogue, Rolling Stone, Bon Appetit, People and Variety.

From Barron's ● Jul. 7, 2026

He has also created red carpet looks for the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Katy Perry and Ariana Grande, while having his work showcased on the covers of publications including Vogue, Harper's Bazaar and Vanity Fair.

From BBC ● Jun. 19, 2026

Bilton, who is the author of two New York Times bestsellers, wrote for the Times and served as special correspondent at Vanity Fair.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 1, 2026

The article was in Vanity Fair, and it was titled “Ground Zero,” based on his encounters in Bosnia.

From "The Freedom Writers Diary" by The Freedom Writers