vanity

UK: /ˈvænəti/ US: /ˈvænɪti/ ,(van′i tē)

Inflections of 'vanity' (n): npl: vanities

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

van•i•ty /ˈvænɪti/   n., pl. -ties, adj. 
n. 

1. [uncountable] too much pride in oneself or one's appearance;
   the character or quality of being vain.
2. [countable] something worthless, trivial, or pointless.
3. [countable] something about which one is vain.
4. [countable] a small case for holding cosmetics.
5. Furniture [countable] a dressing table.
6. Furniture [countable] a cabinet built around or below a bathroom sink.
7. [countable] compact¹ (def. 6).

adj. 

8. of, relating to, or issued by a press that publishes books at the author's expense.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

van•i•ty  (van′i tē), n., pl. -ties, adj. 
n. 

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.
2. an instance or display of this quality or feeling.
3. something about which one is vain.
4. lack of real value;
   hollowness;
   worthlessness:
   the vanity of a selfish life.
5. something worthless, trivial, or pointless.
6. See vanity case. 
7. Furniture See dressing table. 
8. Furniture 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. Furniture a cabinet built below or around a bathroom sink, primarily to hide exposed pipes.
10. compact¹ (def. 13).

adj. 

11. Literature, Show Business produced as a showcase for one's own talents, esp. as a writer, actor, singer, or composer:
    a vanity production.
12. of, pertaining to, or issued by a vanity press:
    a spate of vanity books.

• Latin vānitās, equivalent. to vān- (see vain) + -itās- -ity
• Old French
• Middle English vanite 1200–50

van′i•tied, adj. 
Synonyms

• 1. egotism, complacency, vainglory, ostentation. See pride. 
• 4. emptiness, sham, unreality, folly, triviality, futility.

Antonyms

• 1. humility.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

vanity / ˈvænɪtɪ/ noun ( -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. 
   short for vanity unit

adjective

motivated by self-regard or a desire for admiration: a vanity project

Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French vanité, from Latin vānitās emptiness, from vānus empty