adj., vain·er, vain·est.
- Not yielding the desired outcome; fruitless: a vain attempt.
- Lacking substance or worth: vain talk.
- Excessively proud of one's appearance or accomplishments; conceited.
- Archaic. Foolish.
in vain
- To no avail; without success: Our labor was in vain.
- In an irreverent or disrespectful manner: took the Lord's name in vain.
[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin vānus, empty.]
vainly vain'ly adv.vainness vain'ness n.
SYNONYMS vain, empty, hollow, idle, nugatory, otiose. These adjectives mean lacking value or substance: vain regrets; empty pleasures; hollow threats; idle dreams; nugatory commentaries; an otiose belief in alchemy. See also synonyms at futile.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
