vanity

/ˈvænəti/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈvænəti/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈva-nə-tē/ (ame, mw) · /ˈvæn.ə.ti/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈvæn.ə.t̬i/ (ame, ipa)

vanity — noun

  • vanitysingular
  • vanitiesplural

1. an unhealthy degree of pride in how you look or in what you have done, usually s

1.名詞B2
釋義

an unhealthy degree of pride in how you look or in what you have done, usually shown by wanting others to admire you.

例句

Mauricio spent two hours at the mirror every morning out of pure vanity.

collocation: out of (pure) vanity

Linh refused to wear glasses at the dinner party, even though her vanity made the menu impossible to read.

同義詞
  • conceit

    an inflated belief in one's own importance; less tied to physical looks

  • narcissism

    stronger, often clinical; implies pattern of self-obsession and weak empathy

  • self-importance

    focus on believing one matters more than others, less on appearance

反義詞
  • humility

    modest view of one's own worth

  • modesty

    habit of not drawing attention to one's looks or successes

文法句型

uncountable noun

out of vanity

sheer vanity

用法筆記

Always negative in tone; contrast with 'pride', which can be positive. Frequently intensified by 'sheer', 'pure', or 'mere', and commonly appears in the phrases 'out of vanity' and 'driven by vanity'.

常見錯誤

❌She has a healthy vanity about her work.
✅She has a healthy pride in her work.
💡'vanity' is always negative; use 'pride' when the feeling is earned and positive.
❌His vanity of his children was touching.
✅His pride in his children was touching.
💡'vanity' is about oneself, not about loving feelings toward others.

2. a low table that has a mirror fixed to it and small drawers underneath, where so

2.名詞B1
釋義

a low table that has a mirror fixed to it and small drawers underneath, where someone sits to apply makeup or get ready in the bedroom.

例句

Esme sat at her vanity and brushed her hair before the wedding guests arrived.

pattern: sit at + one's vanity

The antique vanity had three folding mirrors and small brass handles on every drawer.

同義詞
  • dressing table

    the everyday British English term for the same piece of furniture

  • makeup table

    informal, modern term emphasising the cosmetic use

文法句型

countable noun

sit at one's vanity

用法筆記

Common in American English; British speakers usually say 'dressing table'. Often called a 'vanity table' in furniture catalogues.

3. a piece of bathroom furniture that combines a sink set into a flat counter with

3.名詞B1
釋義

a piece of bathroom furniture that combines a sink set into a flat counter with a cupboard underneath for storing towels and toiletries.

例句

The plumber installed a new vanity with a white marble top in the guest bathroom.

pattern: install a vanity

Rania chose a vanity with two deep drawers so she could hide her cleaning supplies inside.

同義詞
  • bathroom cabinet

    general term; may refer to wall units without a built-in sink

  • washstand

    older or traditional term for a stand holding a basin

文法句型

countable noun

用法筆記

Standard term in home improvement and building contexts. Often called a 'bathroom vanity' to distinguish from the bedroom dressing-table sense.

4. in literary or religious writing, the idea that something has no real worth or l

4.名詞C1
釋義

in literary or religious writing, the idea that something has no real worth or lasting meaning, especially when set against death, time, or what truly matters.

例句

Ingrid wrote a long essay about the vanity of human ambition in the shadow of death.

pattern: the vanity of + abstract noun

Watching the tide wash away their sandcastles, the children sensed the vanity of all their afternoon's work.

同義詞
  • futility

    more direct and everyday; stresses that effort will produce nothing

  • emptiness

    focuses on lack of substance or meaning

  • transience

    stresses how short-lived the thing is, rather than valueless

反義詞

文法句型

the vanity of + abstract noun

用法筆記

Predominantly literary and philosophical. Echoes the biblical phrase 'vanity of vanities; all is vanity' from Ecclesiastes, where the underlying Hebrew word means 'vapour' or 'breath' — something fleeting rather than morally proud.

常見錯誤

❌The vanity of the meeting was obvious — nothing got decided.
✅The futility of the meeting was obvious.
💡for an everyday pointless effort, use 'futility'; reserve this sense of 'vanity' for literary or philosophical writing.

vanity — adjective