vanity

/ˈvænɪti/

//ˈvænɪti// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"vanity" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“vanity” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #10,633 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#10,633
frequency rank, English
6
letters
9
tracked misspellings
4
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - That which is vain, futile, or worthless; that which is of no value, use or profit.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

vanity vs verity
67% similar
vanity vs variety
71% similar
vanity vs varsity
71% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for vanity
PropertyValue
Headwordvanity
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈvænɪti/
Letters6
Frequency rank#10,633
Misspellings tracked9
Confusable pairs4
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “vanity” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). vanity lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for vanity is 6 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈvænɪti/. Corpus data places it at rank #10,633 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 5 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 9 likely wrong-spelling variants for vanity, with forms such as "avnity", "vainty", and "vanitty". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 4 confusable-pair relationships, "verity", "variety", "varsity", and more, where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From va(i)n + -ity, from Middle English vanite, from Old French vanité, from Latin vānitas, from vānus, whence English vain. Doublet of vanitas. The correct English form is vanity, spelled V-A-N-I-T-Y.

Definition

  1. 1
    That which is vain, futile, or worthless; that which is of no value, use or profit.
  2. 2
    Excessive pride in or admiration of one's own abilities, appearance, achievements, or possessions.
  3. 3
    A dressing table used to apply makeup, preen, and coif hair, in which the table is normally quite low and similar to a desk.
  4. 4
    A washbasin installed into a permanently fixed storage unit, used as an item of bathroom furniture.
  5. 5
    Any idea, theory or statement that is without foundation.

Etymology

From va(i)n + -ity, from Middle English vanite, from Old French vanité, from Latin vānitas, from vānus, whence English vain. Doublet of vanitas.

Synonyms

arrogance

This word in other languages

vanidad(Español)vanité(Français)Vergänglichkeit(Deutsch)vaidade(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: avnity,vainty,vanitty,vanityy,vaniyt,vannity,vantiy,vnaity,vvanity

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of vanity - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

avnity2vainty2vanitty1vanityy1vaniyt2vannity1vantiy2vnaity2
Edit distance from "vanity"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "vanity"?
"vanity" is spelled V-A-N-I-T-Y. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈvænɪti/.
What does "vanity" mean?
As a noun, "vanity" means: That which is vain, futile, or worthless; that which is of no value, use or profit.
What words are commonly confused with "vanity"?
"vanity" is commonly confused with "verity", "variety", "varsity". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "vanity"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "vanity" is /ˈvænɪti/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "vanity"?
From va(i)n + -ity, from Middle English vanite, from Old French vanité, from Latin vānitas, from vānus, whence English vain. Doublet of vanitas. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “vanity”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is V-A-N-I-T-Y - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈvænɪti/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “verity” - see the side-by-side comparison. vanity vs verity
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list