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

The 2026 Vanity Fair Oscar Party moved to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art this year and will be held at the new David Geffen Galleries.

From Los Angeles Times

On the presidential campaign trail, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez will likely be reminded of a glowing piece in Vanity Fair from her first term, quoting her saying, “Every time I go on TV, people ask for my lipstick.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Meanwhile, Lindo told Vanity Fair that he and Jordan "did what we had to do" as they carried on presenting the category, but also said he wished "someone from Bafta spoke to us afterward".

From BBC

After the Bafta's ceremony last month, Lindo told Vanity Fair that he and Jordan "did what we had to do" as they carried on presenting the category, but also said he wished "someone from Bafta spoke to us afterward".

From BBC

Band - now exiled from Clintonworld after a falling out around 2015 - told Vanity Fair in 2020 that he had tried to push the former president away from Epstein after the Africa trip in 2002.

From BBC