Definition of 'vain'
Word forms: comparative vainer
, superlative vainest
1. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
2. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
3. adjective
If you describe someone as vain, you are critical of their extreme pride in their own beauty, intelligence, or other good qualities.
[disapproval] 4.
See in vain
5.
See in vain
Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
British English pronunciation
American English pronunciation
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Word Frequency
vain in British English
adjective
1.
2.
3.
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Derived forms
vainly (ˈvainly) adverb
vainness (ˈvainness)
noun
Word origin
C13: via Old French from Latin vānusWord Frequency
vain in American English
adjective
3.
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈfutile
Idioms:
SYNONYMY NOTE: vain, in this connection, applies to that which has little or no real value, worth, or
meaning [vain studies]; idle refers to that which is baseless or worthless because it can never be realized [idle hopes, idle talk]; empty, hollow are used of that which only appears to be genuine, sincere, worthwhile, etc. [empty threats, hollow pleasures]; otiose applies to that which has no real purpose or function and is therefore useless or
superfluous [otiose remarks]Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Derived forms
vainness (ˈvainness)
noun
Word Frequency
vain in American English
(vein)
adjectiveWord forms: -er, -est
SYNONYMS 1. egotistical, self-complacent, vainglorious, proud, arrogant, overweening. 3. fruitless, unavailing. 4. unimportant, trivial, trifling, nugatory. See useless.ANTONYMS 1. humble. 3. useful.1.
excessively proud of or concerned about one's own appearance, qualities, achievements,
etc.; conceited
a vain dandy
4.
without real significance, value, or importance; baseless or worthless
vain pageantry
vain display
5. archaic
senseless or foolish
6. See in vain
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Derived forms
vainly adverb
vainness
noun
Word origin
[1250–1300; ME ‹ OF ‹ L vānus empty, vain]Examples of 'vain' in a sentence
vain
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In other languages
vain
British English: vain
/veɪn/ ADJECTIVE
attempt A vain attempt or action is one that fails to achieve what was intended.
The drafting committee worked through the night in a vain attempt to finish on schedule.
- American English: vain /ˈveɪn/
- Arabic: باَطِل
- Brazilian Portuguese: vaidoso
- Chinese: 徒然的
- Croatian: uzaludan
- Czech: marný bezvýsledný
- Danish: frugtesløs
- Dutch: vergeefs
- European Spanish: vano
- Finnish: turhamainen
- French: vaniteux
- German: eitel
- Greek: μάταιος
- Italian: vano
- Japanese: うぬぼれの強い
- Korean: 허영심이 강한
- Norwegian: forfengelig
- Polish: próżny zadufany
- European Portuguese: vaidoso
- Romanian: zadarnic
- Russian: тщетный
- Latin American Spanish: vanidoso
- Swedish: fåfäng
- Thai: ไร้ประโยชน์
- Turkish: kendini beğenmiş
- Ukrainian: марний
- Vietnamese: vô hiệu
British English: vain
ADJECTIVE /veɪn/
person If you describe someone as vain, you are critical of their extreme pride in their own beauty, intelligence, or other good qualities.
He wasn't so vain as to think he was smarter than his boss.
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Definition of vain from the Collins English Dictionary
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