vanity

1 of 2

noun

van·​i·​ty ˈva-nə-tē 

plural vanities

1

: inflated pride in oneself or one's appearance : conceit

2

: something that is vain, empty, or valueless

3

a

: dressing table

b

: a bathroom cabinet containing a sink and usually having a countertop

4

: the quality or fact of being vain

5

: a fashionable trifle or knickknack

6

a

: compact entry 3 sense a

b

: a small case or handbag for toilet articles used by women

vanity

2 of 2

adjective

1

: of, relating to, or being a work (such as a book or recording) whose production cost is paid by the author or artist

2

: of, relating to, or being a showcase for a usually famous performer or artist who is often also the project's creator or driving force

write, direct, and star in a vanity film

Did you know?

Vanity vs. Pride

People often turn to the dictionary in search of the minute and subtle differences between two similar words. The closely related duo of vanity and pride, which overlap significantly in some respects yet differ in others, offer one such example. Putting aside such uses as pride referring to “a company of lions” and vanity meaning “a dressing table,” each of these words may refer to a state of excessive self-esteem. However, pride may also signify a feeling of satisfaction or happiness (either in oneself or on behalf of others) based on something that is well done; vanity is unlikely to be used in this manner. For a well-worded explanation of this distinction, we might look to Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, in which the character Mary opines: “Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us.”

Synonyms

Noun

• amour propre
• bighead
• complacence
• complacency
• conceit
• conceitedness
• ego
• egotism
• pomposity
• pompousness
• pride
• pridefulness
• self-admiration
• self-assumption
• self-conceit
• self-congratulation
• self-esteem
• self-glory
• self-importance
• self-love
• self-opinion
• self-satisfaction
• smugness
• swelled head
• swellheadedness
• vaingloriousness
• vainglory
• vainness

Examples of vanity in a Sentence

Noun

The handsome actor's vanity was well-known.

She described her accomplishments without exaggeration or vanity.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Typically, en suite bathrooms have a shower, toilet, and vanity with sink. —Kristine Gill, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Apr. 2024

Even a fraction of the high-level attention that Myanmar got during the Obama years would demonstrate to the country’s rightly frustrated people that American interest is genuine, long-term, and not just a fleeting diplomatic vanity project. —Timothy McLaughlin, The Atlantic, 4 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English vanite, borrowed from Anglo-French vanité, borrowed from Latin vānitāt-, vānitās "emptiness, lack of judgment, foolish pride," from vānus "empty, lacking content" + -itāt-, -itās -ity — more at wane entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Adjective

circa 1925, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing vanity

• vanity card
• vanity fair
• vanity plate
• vanity press

Kids Definition

vanity

noun

van·​i·​ty

ˈvan-ət-ē

plural vanities

1

: something that is vain

2

: the quality or fact of being vain

3

a

: compact entry 3 sense 1

b

: dressing table