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vain
- definition
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/veɪn/ 
| adjective | vain |
| comparative | vainer |
| superlative | vainest |
- 2unsuccessful, or uselessa vain attempt/bid/effort:
They made a vain attempt to protect the town from attack.
vain hope:He underwent a knee operation in the vain hope of getting into the team.
phrases
in vain
take someone’s name in vain
often humorous
derived word
vainly
adverbThis is the British English definition of vain. View American English definition of vain.
Change your default dictionary and thesaurus to American English.
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