Definitions for vanity
ˈvæn ɪ tivan·i·ty

Princeton's WordNet(4.00 / 5 votes)Rate this definition:

1. amour propre, conceit, self-love, vanity(noun)

   feelings of excessive pride

2. vanity, emptiness(noun)

   the quality of being valueless or futile

   "he rejected the vanities of the world"

3. conceit, conceitedness, vanity(noun)

   the trait of being unduly vain and conceited; false pride

4. dressing table, dresser, vanity, toilet table(noun)

   low table with mirror or mirrors where one sits while dressing or applying makeup

GCIDE(3.33 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Vanity(n.)

   same as dressing table.

   Etymology: [OE. vanite, F. vanit, L. vanitas, fr. vanus empty, vain. See Vain.]

2. Vanity(n.)

   A cabinet built around a bathroom sink, usually with a countertop and sometimes drawers.

   Etymology: [OE. vanite, F. vanit, L. vanitas, fr. vanus empty, vain. See Vain.]

Wiktionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. vanity(Noun)

   That which is vain, futile, or worthless; that which is of no value, use or profit.

   Etymology: vanus: emptiness or a void - vanitas: vanity through vanité to Middle English.

2. vanity(Noun)

   Excessive pride in or admiration of one's own abilities, appearance or achievements.

   Etymology: vanus: emptiness or a void - vanitas: vanity through vanité to Middle English.

3. vanity(Noun)

   A dressing table used to apply makeup, preen, and coif hair. The table is normally quite low and similar to a desk, with drawers and one or more mirrors atop. Either a chair or bench is used to sit upon.

   Etymology: vanus: emptiness or a void - vanitas: vanity through vanité to Middle English.

4. vanity(Noun)

   Emptiness.

   Etymology: vanus: emptiness or a void - vanitas: vanity through vanité to Middle English.

5. vanity(Noun)

   Any idea, theory or statement that is without foundation.

   Etymology: vanus: emptiness or a void - vanitas: vanity through vanité to Middle English.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Vanity(noun)

   the quality or state of being vain; want of substance to satisfy desire; emptiness; unsubstantialness; unrealness; falsity

   Etymology: [OE. vanite, F. vanit, L. vanitas, fr. vanus empty, vain. See Vain.]

2. Vanity(noun)

   an inflation of mind upon slight grounds; empty pride inspired by an overweening conceit of one's personal attainments or decorations; an excessive desire for notice or approval; pride; ostentation; conceit

   Etymology: [OE. vanite, F. vanit, L. vanitas, fr. vanus empty, vain. See Vain.]

3. Vanity(noun)

   that which is vain; anything empty, visionary, unreal, or unsubstantial; fruitless desire or effort; trifling labor productive of no good; empty pleasure; vain pursuit; idle show; unsubstantial enjoyment

   Etymology: [OE. vanite, F. vanit, L. vanitas, fr. vanus empty, vain. See Vain.]

4. Vanity(noun)

   one of the established characters in the old moralities and puppet shows. See Morality, n., 5

   Etymology: [OE. vanite, F. vanit, L. vanitas, fr. vanus empty, vain. See Vain.]

Freebase(3.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Vanity

   In conventional parlance, vanity is the excessive belief in one's own abilities or attractiveness to others. Prior to the 14th century it did not have such narcissistic undertones, and merely meant futility. The related term vainglory is now often seen as an archaic synonym for vanity, but originally meant boasting in vain, i.e. unjustified boasting; although glory is now seen as having an exclusively positive meaning, the Latin term gloria roughly means boasting, and was often used as a negative criticism.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Vanity

   See Vain.

Editors Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Vanity

   Vanity is nothing else but excessive pride, regard, trust, hope, admiration or dependence in one's own or someone else's riches, wealth, social status, family background, qualification, beauty, handsomeness or stuffs like that.

   Emeasoba George

   Submitted by emeasoba_g on February 28, 2018  

Suggested Resources(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. vanity

   Song lyrics by vanity -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by vanity on the Lyrics.com website.

How to pronounce vanity?

1. Alex

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

How to say vanity in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of vanity in Chaldean Numerology is: 9

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of vanity in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

Examples of vanity in a Sentence

1. Logan Pearsall Smith:

   Every author, however modest, keeps a most outrageous vanity chained like a madman in the padded cell of his breast.

2. T. E. Lawrence:

   All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes, to make it possible.

3. Butler:

   The truest characters of ignorance Are vanity, pride, and arrogance; As blind men use to bear their noses higher Than those that have their eyes and sight entire.

4. Helen Hayes:

   There's a little vanity chair that Charlie gave me the first Christmas we knew each other. I'll not be parting with that, nor our bed-the four-poster-I'll be needing that to die in.

5. Ivanka Trump:

   I think it’s a pretty inappropriate question to ask a daughter if she believes the accusers of her father when he’s affirmatively stated that there’s no truth to it. I don’t think that’s a question you would ask many other daughters, i believe my father, I know my father. Soon after, Handler took to Twitter to share an image from a 1996 photo shoot for Vanity Fair that shows her sitting on her father’s lap, caressing his face and staring at him at his Mar-a-Lago estate.

Images & Illustrations of vanity

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