vain

 
Pronunciation: /veɪn/

adjective

  • 1having or showing an excessively high opinion of one’s appearance, abilities, or worth: their flattery made him vain a vain woman with a streak of snobbery
  • 2 [attributive] producing no result; useless: a vain attempt to tidy up the room the vain hope of finding work
  • having no likelihood of fulfilment; empty: a vain boast

Phrases

in vain

without success or a result: they waited in vain for a response

take someone's name in vain

use someone’s name in a way that shows a lack of respect.

Derivatives

vainly

adverb

vainness

Pronunciation: /ˈveɪnnɪs/
noun

Origin:

Middle English (in the sense 'devoid of real worth'): via Old French from Latin vanus 'empty, without substance'

Do not confuse vain with vane or vein. Vain means 'having a very high opinion of yourself' ( a vain woman with a touch of snobbery) or 'without success or a result' ( a vain attempt to tidy up); vein means 'a tube that carries blood around the body' or 'a particular style or quality' ( he continued in a more serious vein); vane means 'a broad blade forming part of a windmill, propeller, or turbine'.