vain
/ˈveɪn/
adjective
Common
1.adj.characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
“a conceited fool”
2.adj.unproductive of success
“a fruitless search”
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vain and vane are homophones: they are pronounced identically and spelled differently, which is why they are so often swapped. vain means “characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance”. vane means “mechanical device attached to an elevated structure; rotates freely to show the direction of the wind”. vain is the more common of the two in everyday English.
/ˈveɪn/
1.adj.characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
“a conceited fool”
2.adj.unproductive of success
“a fruitless search”
/ˈveɪn/
| vain | vane | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈveɪn/ | /ˈveɪn/ |
| Said | vayn | vayn |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| Letters | 4 | 4 |
| Parts of speech | adjective | noun |
| Senses | 2 | 4 |
| How common | Common | Familiar |
| Synonyms | conceited, egotistic, egotistical | weathervane, weather vane, wind vane |
Full entry for vain · Full entry for vane · More comparisons
1.n.mechanical device attached to an elevated structure; rotates freely to show the direction of the wind
2.n.a fin attached to the tail of an arrow, bomb or missile in order to stabilize or guide it
3.n.flat surface that rotates and pushes against air or water