Vain, Vein, or Vane?

What Is the Difference between "Vain," "Vein," and "Vane"?

Vein

(noun) "a blood vessel" or "a distinctive style"
  • Your leg veins are working well. correct tick
  • Well done! Continue in the same vein. correct tick

Vain

(adjective or noun) "self admiring" or "futile."
  • You have a lot of mirrors. You're so vain! (adjective) correct tick
  • I tried in vain to convince her to get back on the horse. (noun) correct tick
    • (The term "in vain" means "without success.")

Vane

(noun) "a stabilizing fin or blade"
  • The weathervane is stuck. correct tick
    • (Note that "weathervane" is one word.)
vain, vein, or vane?
"Vain," "vein," and "vane" are easy to confuse because they sound identical (i.e., they are perfect homonyms). However, their meanings are quite different. More specifically, they are homophone homonyms because they sound the same. (They are not homograph homophones because they have different spellings.)

More about "Vein," "Vain," and "Vane"

Vein

The noun "vein" has four main meanings:

(1) A blood vessel that carries blood from the capillaries towards the heart.

varicose veins

The image shows varicose veins in the legs.

(2) A distinctive style or manner.

  • Mr. Mellor continued in the same vein despite several reprimands. correct tick

(3) A layer of ore or mineral between layers of rock.

vein running through rock

The image shows a mineral vein running through a rock.

(4) The ribs that support an insect's wing.

veins in insect wing

The image shows veins in an insect's wing

Vain

The adjective "vain" means "conceited" or "self admiring." "Vain" can also mean "fruitless." In this meaning, it is often seen as "in vain" meaning "without success" or "in a futile manner."

Example sentences with "vain":
  • Petra is so vain. She spends half her time looking in the mirror. correct tick
  • I tried in vain to pull the boat ashore, but it was just too heavy. correct tick

Vane

The noun "vane denotes a blade or a fin usually used to stabilize an object in the air or in water. It is most commonly seen in the word weathervane.

Example sentences with "vane":
  • The stabilizing vane has come loose. correct tick
  • The steel casing protects the vane from damage in the event that the vessel hits the rocks. correct tick
weather vane

The shows a weathervane pointing towards the wind. (Note that "weathervane" is one word.)

Common Terms with the Words "Vain," "Vein," and "Vane"

The word "vain" (meaning "futile" or "producing no result") is often seen in the following terms:
  • try in vain
  • vain attempt
  • do something in vain
  • vain hope
"Vain" (meaning "self-admiring") is often seen in the following terms:
  • vain person
  • You're so vain.
The word "vein" (meaning "the tubes forming part of the blood circulation system") is often seen in the following terms:
  • vein blockage
  • vein bruise
  • vein burst
  • vein collapse
  • vein cream
  • vein graft
  • vein infection
  • vein in leg
  • vein removal
  • vein thrombosis
Common terms with the word "vane":
  • weathervane
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This page was written by Craig Shrives.