The meaning of VAIN is having or showing undue or excessive pride in one's appearance or achievements : conceited. How to use vain in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Vain . Vain can mean unsuccessful, of no value, or too proud of yourself. Learn how to use it in different contexts with synonyms, antonyms, and examples from the Cambridge Dictionary. vain (comparative vainer or more vain , superlative vainest or most vain ) Overly proud of oneself, especially concerning appearance; having a high opinion of one's own accomplishments with slight reason. synonyms quotations Synonyms: conceited, flatulent, puffed up, inflated; see also Thesaurus: arrogant, Thesaurus: vain Vain is from Latin vanus, "empty," and in English it originally meant "lacking value or effect, futile," like your vain attempt to find a pencil in your messy, overstuffed backpack. Likewise, the phrase "in vain " means "without success." Vain also means "conceited, too proud of oneself."
