If you refer to someone's vanity, you are critical of them because they take great pride in their appearance or abilities.
[disapproval]
Men who use steroids are often motivated by sheer vanity.
With my usual vanity, I thought he might be falling in love with me.
Synonyms: pride, arrogance, conceit, airs More Synonyms of vanity
More Synonyms of vanity
vanity in British English
(ˈvænɪtɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-ties
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. New Zealand short for vanity unit
adjective
7.
motivated by self-regard or a desire for admiration
a vanity project
Word origin
C13: from Old French vanité, from Latin vānitās emptiness, from vānus empty
vanity in American English
(ˈvænəti)
nounWord forms: pluralˈvanities
1.
any thing or act that is vain, futile, idle, or worthless
2.
the quality or fact of being vain, or worthless; futility
3.
the quality or fact of being vain, or excessively proud of oneself or one's qualities or possessions; self-conceit
4.
a thing about which one is vain or conceited
5. US
vanity case
6. US
a small table or ledge with a mirror for use while putting on cosmetics, combing one's hair, etc.; dressing table
7. US
a bathroom cabinet with a washbowl set in the top
SIMILAR WORDS: pride
Word origin
ME vanite < OFr vanité < L vanitas, emptiness, worthlessness < vanus, vain: see want
Examples of 'vanity' in a sentence
vanity
She will raise taxes to fund vanity projects and push to restrict free speech.
The Sun (2016)
This vanity project must be stopped.
The Sun (2016)
They will not lead the nation into unnecessary wars, overblown vanity projects or personal scandals.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He said:'It is fantastic this money will be diverted from vanity projects to saving lives.
The Sun (2017)
Witness the revival of the vanity case.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Strong is unrepentant about the sheer vanity of the project.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
That he will always be brought down by his conceit and vanity.
The Sun (2015)
This is the mother of all vanity projects.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The poem crackles with an ironic knowledge of human vanity.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Pride and vanity have a tendency to bring to the surface more pride and vanity.
Christianity Today (2000)
Anything more would be sheer vanity on my part.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It all lacks focus and just comes across as a vanity project.
The Sun (2007)
Such various forms does man's vanity take!
Elizabeth Gaskell Wives and Daughters (1864)
Clearly, ambition and vanity played a huge part.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The heavy vanity basin unit had not been secured to a wall properly, a court heard.
The Sun (2016)
Welcome copper, rust and olive pigments into your vanity case.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
As a lesson in vanity and sheer human folly, it deserves to be a classic.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
There have been some successes, but the business has remained very much at the vanity end of publishing.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
It was not vanity so much as the self-consciousness of a shy man who had spent his entire adult life in the spotlight.
The Sun (2015)
But this was enough to wear off the shyness on her side, and any symptoms of mortified pride and vanity on his.
Elizabeth Gaskell North and South (1855)
So I want us to get rid of the baggage of all worldly vanity and selfish love for ourselves.
Kishlansky, Mark A. (editor) Sources of the West: Readings in Western Civilization, Volume 1: From the Beginningto 1715 (1995)
But vanity, not love, has been my folly.
Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice (1813)
Nor would we have it any other way: it's all the way that vanity takes you.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Quotations
I've only been in love with a beer bottle and a mirrorSid Vicious
Vanity is a vital aid to nature: completely and absolutely necessary to life. It is one of nature's ways to bind you to the earthElizabeth SmartNecessary Secrets
Vanity, like murder, will outHannah CowleyThe Belle's Stratagem
Possibly, more people kill themselves and others out of hurt vanity than out of envy, jealousy, malice or desire for revengeIris MurdochThe Philosopher's Pupil
Vanity of vanities, all is vanityBible: Ecclesiastes
We are so vain that we even care for the opinion of those we don't care forMarie von Ebner-Eschenbach
In other languages
vanity
British English: vanity NOUN
If you refer to someone's vanity, you are critical of them because they take great pride in their appearance or abilities.
He was motivated by sheer vanity.
American English: vanity
Brazilian Portuguese: vaidade
Chinese: 虚荣
European Spanish: vanidad
French: vanité
German: Eitelkeit
Italian: vanità
Japanese: うぬぼれ
Korean: 허영심
European Portuguese: vaidade
Latin American Spanish: vanidad
All related terms of 'vanity'
vanity bag
a woman's small bag or hand case used to carry cosmetics , etc
vanity box
a woman's box, larger than a vanity bag , used to carry cosmetics , etc
vanity case
a woman's small hand case used to carry cosmetics , etc
Vanity Fair
the social life of a community , esp of a great city, or the world in general, considered as symbolizing worldly frivolity
vanity unit
a hand basin built into a wooden Formica-covered or tiled top, usually with a built-in cupboard below it
vanity basin
a hand basin built into a wooden Formica-covered or tiled top, usually with a built-in cupboard below it
vanity mirror
a small mirror contained in the sun visor of a car
vanity plate
a license plate having letters and numbers chosen by the owner , who usually pays an extra fee
vanity plates
personalized car numberplates
vanity press
a publishing house which publishes only books for which the author pays all the costs of production
vanity publishing
the practice of the author of a book paying all or most of the costs of its publication
vanitory
a hand basin built into a wooden Formica-covered or tiled top, usually with a built-in cupboard below it
Vanitory unit
a hand basin built into a wooden Formica-covered or tiled top, usually with a built-in cupboard below it
Chinese translation of 'vanity'
vanity
(ˈvænɪtɪ)
n(u)
虚(虛)荣(榮) (xūróng)
1 (noun)
Definition
a feeling of pride about one's appearance or ability
Some people, motivated by vanity, choose not to use sun block.
Synonyms
pride
His pride may still be his downfall.
arrogance
At times, the arrogance of those in power is quite blatant.
conceit
He knew, without conceit, that he was considered a genius.
airs
showing off (informal)
pretension
We liked him for his honesty and lack of pretension.
narcissism
Their self-absorption borders on narcissism.
egotism
his amazing blend of egotism, superciliousness and stupidity
self-love
ostentation
Despite her wealth, she lived with a notable lack of ostentation.
vainglory
self-admiration
affected ways
bigheadedness (informal)
conceitedness
swollen-headedness (informal)
Opposites
modesty
,
humility
,
self-deprecation
,
meekness
,
self-abasement
2 (noun)
the futility of human existence and the vanity of wealth
Synonyms
futility
The futility of our attempts was frustrating.
uselessness
worthlessness
emptiness
the unsoundness and emptiness of his beliefs
frivolity
unreality
triviality
news items of quite astonishing triviality
hollowness
pointlessness
inanity
the inanity of the conversation
unproductiveness
fruitlessness
unsubstantiality
profitlessness
Opposites
value
,
worth
,
importance
Quotations
I've only been in love with a beer bottle and a mirror [Sid Vicious]Vanity is a vital aid to nature: completely and absolutely necessary to life. It is one of nature's ways to bind you to the earth [Elizabeth Smart – Necessary Secrets]Vanity, like murder, will out [Hannah Cowley – The Belle's Stratagem]Possibly, more people kill themselves and others out of hurt vanity than out of envy, jealousy, malice or desire for revenge [Iris Murdoch – The Philosopher's Pupil]Vanity of vanities, all is vanity [Bible: Ecclesiastes]We are so vain that we even care for the opinion of those we don't care for [Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of arrogance
At times, the arrogance of those in power is quite blatant.
Synonyms
conceit,
pride,
swagger,
pretension,
presumption,
bluster,
hubris,
pomposity,
insolence,
hauteur,
pretentiousness,
high-handedness,
haughtiness,
loftiness,
imperiousness,
pompousness,
superciliousness,
lordliness,
conceitedness,
contemptuousness,
scornfulness,
uppishness (British, informal),
disdainfulness,
overweeningness
in the sense of conceit
Definition
an excessively high opinion of oneself
He knew, without conceit, that he was considered a genius.
Synonyms
self-importance,
vanity,
arrogance,
complacency,
pride,
swagger,
narcissism,
egotism,
self-love,
amour-propre,
vainglory
in the sense of egotism
Definition
concern only for one's own interests and feelings
his amazing blend of egotism, superciliousness and stupidity
Synonyms
self-centredness,
self-esteem,
vanity,
superiority,
self-interest,
selfishness,
narcissism,
self-importance,
self-regard,
self-love,
self-seeking,
self-absorption,
self-obsession,
egocentricity,
egomania,
self-praise,
vainglory,
self-conceit,
self-admiration,
conceitedness
Synonyms of 'vanity'
vanity
Explore 'vanity' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of emptiness
the unsoundness and emptiness of his beliefs
Synonyms
meaninglessness,
vanity,
banality,
frivolity,
idleness,
unreality,
silliness,
triviality,
ineffectiveness,
cheapness,
insincerity,
worthlessness,
hollowness,
inanity,
unsubstantiality,
trivialness,
vainness
in the sense of inanity
the inanity of the conversation
Synonyms
senselessness,
bêtise (rare),
folly,
emptiness,
frivolity,
silliness,
worthlessness,
vacuity,
imbecility,
fatuity,
vapidity,
puerility,
asininity,
daftness (informal)
in the sense of narcissism
Definition
an exceptional interest in or admiration for oneself
Their self-absorption borders on narcissism.
Synonyms
egotism,
vanity,
conceit,
self-regard,
self-love,
self-absorption,
egoism,
self-obsession,
self-centredness,
egocentricity,
egomania,
self-conceit,
self-admiration,
self-adulation
in the sense of ostentation
Definition
pretentious, showy, or vulgar display
Despite her wealth, she lived with a notable lack of ostentation.
Synonyms
display,
show,
parade,
boasting,
flourish,
showing off (informal),
pretension,
flaunting,
vaunting,
pomp,
window-dressing,
flamboyance,
affectation,
swank (informal),
pageantry,
exhibitionism,
pretentiousness,
flashiness,
showiness
in the sense of pretension
Definition
the quality of being pretentious
We liked him for his honesty and lack of pretension.