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 vein 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”. vein means “a blood vessel that carries blood from the capillaries toward the heart”. 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 | vein | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈveɪn/ | /ˈveɪn/ |
| Said | vayn | vayn |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| Letters | 4 | 4 |
| Parts of speech | adjective | noun, verb |
| Senses | 2 | 6 |
| How common | Common | Familiar |
| Synonyms | conceited, egotistic, egotistical | vena, venous blood vessel |
Full entry for vain · Full entry for vein · More comparisons
1.n.a blood vessel that carries blood from the capillaries toward the heart
“all veins except the pulmonary vein carry unaerated blood”
2.n.a distinctive style or manner
“he continued in this vein for several minutes”
3.n.any of the vascular bundles or ribs that form the branching framework of conducting and supporting tissues in a leaf or other plant organ