What does "vanity" mean?
That which is vain, futile, or worthless; that which is of no value, use or profit.
Vanity
/ˈvænɪti/ name, noun
name, noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: That which is vain, futile, or worthless; that which is of no value, use or profit.
- Grammar: vanity is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: conceit, emptiness, absurdity, aim.
- Useful contrasts: diffidence, humility, modesty.
- Usage evidence: There is, perhaps, not one of our natural passions so hard to subdue as vanity.
How to use "vanity"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "vanity" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "vanity" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "vanity" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "vanity" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "vanity" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "conceit" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "vanity", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 That which is vain, futile, or worthless; that which is of no value, use or profit. countable, uncountable
"Then I said in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me and why then was I more wise? Then I said in my heart that this is also vanity. / For there is no more remembrance of the wise than the fool forever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool."
- 2 low table with mirror or mirrors where one sits while dressing or applying makeup wordnet
- 3 Excessive pride in or admiration of one's own abilities, appearance, achievements, or possessions. countable, uncountable
"To make a man in love with you gives an instant hold on his vanity; and with that, you can do any thing. Vanity is the real lever with which Archimedes said he could move the earth; so, try what you can effect with Sir Robert."
- 4 the trait of being unduly vain and conceited; false pride wordnet
- 5 A dressing table used to apply makeup, preen, and coif hair, in which the table is normally quite low and similar to a desk. countable, uncountable
"She was sitting in front of her vanity, brushing out her hair."
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 the quality of being valueless or futile wordnet
- 7 A washbasin installed into a permanently fixed storage unit, used as an item of bathroom furniture. countable, uncountable
- 8 feelings of excessive pride wordnet
- 9 Any idea, theory or statement that is without foundation. countable, obsolete, uncountable
"It is a vanity to say that if two stones are dropped from a tower, the heavier will experience the greater acceleration."
Proper Noun
- 1 A female given name.
"But alumni and choir volunteer Vanity Brown says when they returned, Ms. Stevenson was told she wouldn't be allowed in the classroom for at least 120 days."
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"There is, perhaps, not one of our natural passions so hard to subdue as vanity."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "vanity"?
Common synonyms include: conceit, emptiness, absurdity, aim, aimlessness, amour propre.
How do you use "vanity" in a sentence?
There is, perhaps, not one of our natural passions so hard to subdue as vanity.
How do you pronounce "vanity"?
Pronounced /ˈvænɪti/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From va(i)n + -ity, from Middle English vanite, from Old French vanité, from Latin vānitas, from vānus, whence English vain. Doublet of vanitas.
Etymology 2
From vanity.