Vanity Fair

noun

1. (in Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress ) a fair that goes on perpetually in the town of Vanity and symbolizes worldly ostentation and frivolity.
2. (often lowercase) any place or group, as the world or fashionable society, characterized by or displaying a preoccupation with idle pleasures or ostentation.
3. (italics) a novel (1847–48) by Thackeray.

Vanity Fair

noun

1. literary.
   often not capitals the social life of a community, esp of a great city, or the world in general, considered as symbolizing worldly frivolity

Vanity Fair

1. (1847–1848) A novel by the English author William Makepeace Thackeray. The leading character is Becky Sharp, an unscrupulous woman who gains wealth and influence by her cleverness.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Vanity Fair¹

from Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress

Example Sentences

Tuesday night, Vanity Fair reported that the transition team “is quietly preparing a lists of alternative defense secretary candidates should Trump abandon Hegseth,” citing two sources close to the president-elect.

From Salon

The Trump transition team has responded to the disclosure with its characteristic bravado, insisting that Hegseth did nothing wrong and will indeed be confirmed by the Senate.; this, despite the fact that incoming White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles was blindsided by the allegation of misconduct, according to Vanity Fair.

From Salon

“This alleged incident didn’t come up,” an unnamed higher-up in the transition team told Vanity Fair.

From Salon

The allegations came to the attention of Trump’s incoming Chief of Staff Susie Wiles on Wednesday night, a day after Trump announced the pick, with one Trump team source telling Vanity Fair that Hegseth “wasn’t vetted.”

From Salon

Wiles and Trump’s attorneys met with Hegseth on Thursday to discuss the allegations, a transition team source told Vanity Fair.

From Salon