Vanity refers to excessive pride or conceit in one's appearance, abilities, or accomplishments. It can also describe an ornate mirror or cabinet used for storing personal items.
When people talk about someone having a lot of vanity, they usually mean that this person is overly concerned with how they look and what others think of them. You might hear someone say, "Stop being so vain, you're already beautiful!" or "That Instagram influencer has too much vanity - she only posts pictures of herself." In these cases, the word is used to describe a lack of self-awareness or humility. On the other hand, a vanity can be a physical object like a mirror with intricate carvings on it, or a decorative cabinet in a bedroom where people keep their makeup and jewelry.
How common is "vanity"?
Word vanity is considered uncommon in modern English. It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.
Definitions
noun
That which is vain, futile, or worthless; that which is of no value, use or profit.
Excessive pride in or admiration of one's own abilities, appearance or achievements.
A dressing table used to apply makeup, preen, and coif hair. The table is normally quite low and similar to a desk, with drawers and one or more mirrors on top. Either a chair or bench is used to sit upon.
A washbasin installed into a permanently fixed storage unit, used as an item of bathroom furniture.
Emptiness.
Any idea, theory or statement that is without foundation.
Example: It is a vanity to say that if two stones are dropped from a tower, the heavier will experience the greater acceleration.