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. Swami Krishnananda:

   What man needs is not philosophy or religion in the academic or formalistic sense of the term, but ability to think rightly. The malady of the age is not absence of philosophy or even irreligion but wrong thinking and a vanity which passes for knowledge. Though it is difficult to define right thinking, it cannot be denied that it is the goal of the aspirations of everyone.

2. Alexander Pope:

   The general cry is against ingratitude, but the complaint is misplaced, it should be against vanity; none but direct villains are capable of willful ingratitude; but almost everybody is capable of thinking he hath done more that another deserves, while the other thinks he hath received less than he deserves.

3. Jung Pak:

   These are not just vanity projects, but they reflect his desire to look modern and upscale and counter the existing narrative, on one hand, there is the respect aspect of it.

4. 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.

5. Lady Mary Wortley Montagu:

   There is nothing can pay one for that invaluable ignorance which is the companion of youth, those sanguine groundless hopes, and that lively vanity which makes all the happiness of life.

Images & Illustrations of vanity

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