Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

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.


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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.


Etymology

Origin of Vanity Fair

from Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Yet, Vonn would not definitively say that her competitive skiing career is over, during a recent interview with Vanity Fair’s Elise Taylor.

From Los Angeles Times

“I wanted to win the Olympics, and I wanted to win the downhill title, and I was on track to do both of those things,” Vonn told Vanity Fair.

From Los Angeles Times

Vonn did tell Vanity Fair that she’s not crazy about the idea of the catastrophe at the Winter Games being the public’s last impression of her as a skier.

From Los Angeles Times

That got a mention in a Vanity Fair profile of co-founder and CEO Peter Rahal, but little more attention until this month.

From The Wall Street Journal

Celebrities are a common sight at the popular US fast food chain, perhaps in part due to its relationship with the Oscars - Vanity Fair, which hosts the now-legendary afterparty, has served In-N-Out burgers at the event since 1994, according to US media.

From BBC