vanity

American  

[van-i-tee] / ˈvæn ɪ ti /

noun

plural

vanities

1. excessive pride in one's appearance, qualities, abilities, achievements, etc.; character or quality of being vain; conceit.

   Failure to be elected was a great blow to his vanity.

   Synonyms:

   ostentation, vainglory, complacency, egotism

   Antonyms:

   humility

2. an instance or display of this quality or feeling.

3. something about which one is vain or excessively proud.

   His good looks are his greatest vanity.

4. lack of real value; hollowness; worthlessness.

   the vanity of a selfish life.

   Synonyms:

   futility, triviality, folly, unreality, sham, emptiness

5. something worthless, trivial, or pointless.

6. vanity case.

7. dressing table.

8. a wide, counterlike shelf containing a wash basin, as in the bathroom of a hotel or residence, often equipped with shelves, drawers, etc., underneath.

9. a cabinet built below or around a bathroom sink, primarily to hide exposed pipes.

10. compact.

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adjective

1. produced as a showcase for one's own talents, especially as a writer, actor, singer, or composer.

   surprisingly entertaining for a vanity production.

2. of, relating to, or issued by a vanity press.

   a spate of vanity books.

vanity British  

/ ˈvænɪtɪ /

noun

1. the state or quality of being vain; excessive pride or conceit

2. ostentation occasioned by ambition or pride

3. an instance of being vain or something about which one is vain

4. the state or quality of being valueless, futile, or unreal

5. something that is worthless or useless

6. short for vanity unit

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Usage

What does vanity mean? Vanity is the excessive pride in oneself, usually related to appearance or accomplishments, as in Simon’s vanity wouldn’t let him purchase a more practical car.Vanity can also refer to something a person is overly proud of, as in Lars’ only real vanity was his singing ability.Vanity can also refer to an area with a mirror where you would groom yourself, like a dressing table or a counter and sink. A vanity can also be a place for storing grooming products, such as a shelf, cupboard, or case.Example: That museum of vanity that he calls a house is just full of his own artwork and paintings.

Related Words

See pride.

Other Word Forms

• vanitied adjective

Etymology

Origin of vanity

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English vanite from Old French vanité from Latin vānitās, equivalent to vān- ( vain ) + -itās -ity

Example Sentences

"All the money the council has wasted over the last seven years and the £300,000 they are now committing to spending is part of a vanity project," O'Donovan said.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026

Her performance in “Vladimir” completely eschewed vanity and instead fixates on what makes this woman go off the rails.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 26, 2026

Many of these high-profile attempts to foster serious conversation through art drowned it in vanity.

From Salon • Feb. 12, 2026

Like the grit in the oyster, there’s a solid core of truth inside the vanity of wild price swings.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 1, 2026

A vanity table held a washbasin, and a fireplace always roared with light.

From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton

Related Words

• arrogance
• pride