n. (pl. -ies)
1. conceit and desire for admiration of one's personal attainments or attractions.
2 a futility or unsubstantiality (the vanity of human achievement). b an unreal thing.
3 ostentatious display.
4 US a dressing-table.
Phrases and idioms:
vanity bag (or case) a bag or case carried by a woman and containing a small mirror, make-up, etc. Vanity Fair the world (allegorized in Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress) as a scene of vanity. vanity unit a unit consisting of a wash-basin set into a flat top with cupboards beneath.
Etymology: ME f. OF vanit{eacute} f. L vanitas -tatis (as VAIN)