vanity

B2 Topic:Abstract Ideas

US /ˈvænəti/ UK /ˈvænɪti/ See IPA manual

Freq #8997

Meanings

1

noun
Too much pride in your own appearance, abilities, or achievements.

His vanity made it hard for him to admit any mistake.
2

noun
A small table with a mirror, used for putting on makeup or doing your hair.

She sat at her vanity brushing her long hair.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · too much pride in your own... conceit conceitedness

2 noun · a small table with a... dressing table

More arrogance

Word family

Forms vanities

Related forms vain

Appears in

Proverbs (1)

See all

All is vanity

Simplified etymology

Vanity entered English in the Middle Ages from Latin vanus, meaning “empty” or “without substance.” Its main early senses were “futility” and “worthlessness,” although the idea of personal vanity was also present from the start.

Etymology

From va(i)n + -ity, from Middle English vanite, from Old French vanité, from Latin vānitas, from vānus, whence English vain. Doublet of vanitas.

*h₁weh₂- Proto-Indo-European vanite Middle English vanité Old French vānitas Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Abstract Ideas

External links

# vanity

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈvænəti/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈvænɪti/
**Frequency rank:** 8997

## Meanings
1. Too much pride in your own appearance, abilities, or achievements.
2. A small table with a mirror, used for putting on makeup or doing your hair.

## Examples
- His vanity made it hard for him to admit any mistake.
- She sat at her vanity brushing her long hair.

## Synonyms
- arrogance

## Related Forms
- vain

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *h₁weh₂-
- Root: vanite
- Root: vanité
- Root: vānitas

## Etymology
From va(i)n + -ity, from Middle English vanite, from Old French vanité, from Latin vānitas, from vānus, whence English vain. Doublet of vanitas.

## AI Etymology
Vanity is from va(i)n + -ity, from Middle English vanite, from Old French vanité, from Latin vānitas, from vānus, whence English vain. Doublet of vanitas. The historical line also includes Proto-Indo-European *h₁weh₂-, Middle English vanite, Old French vanité, Latin vānitas. In present-day use, it can mean too much pride in your own appearance, abilities, or achievements, or a small table with a mirror, used for putting on makeup or doing your hair.

## Topics
- Abstract Ideas

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