“Vain” or “Vane” or “Vein”—Which to use?

“Vain” or “Vane” or “Vein”

Overview

vain / vane / vein are similar-sounding terms with different meanings (referred to as homophones). To better understand the differences, see below for definitions, pronunciation guides, and example sentences using each term. 👇

Definitions

vain: NA

vane: (noun) a fin attached to the tail of an arrow, bomb or missile in order to stabilize or guide it. (noun) the flattened weblike part of a feather consisting of a series of barbs on either side of the shaft.

vein: (noun) a blood vessel that carries blood from the capillaries toward the heart. (noun) a distinctive style or manner. (noun) any of the vascular bundles or ribs that form the branching framework of conducting and supporting tissues in a leaf or other plant organ. (noun) a layer of ore between layers of rock. (noun) one of the horny ribs that stiffen and support the wing of an insect. (verb) make a veinlike pattern.

Pronunciation

vain: v·EY·n

vane: v·EY·n

vein: v·EY·n

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Examples in Context

Examples of “vain”

…south longitude, Krusenstern searched in vain for Ascension Island, the position…
…composer wrote an opera in vain") allegedly found in Lujo Šafranek-Kavić's…
…a student, had tried in vain for many years to prove…
…Ronald, did not die in vain.
Isabel's struggle was not in vain.
…wedding fixed again, but in vain.
…Gellar played a likewise ill-fated vain character, this time that of…
…slain by Dracula for her vain and gluttonous tyranny, Carmilla's ghost…
But Not in Vain (1948) – Minor Role (uncredited)
…the film, Howl, its most vain and selfish character, also learns…

Examples of “vane”

…same point on the horizon vane and sets the sighting vane…
The horizon vane has a slit or hole…
…the angle between the shadow vane and the sighting vane (B-A-C).
AIR STARTER LUBRICATION: All vane type air starters should have…
…under the pen name Violetta Vane.
Ray Hallor - Johnny Vane
Trial of Sir Henry Vane
…Kingdoms had dispatched Sir Henry Vane the Younger as commissioner to…
…opposition to this, and when Vane arrived on 9 June, they…
Vane Pursuit (1989)

Examples of “vein”

Artists in the vein include Erasmus Quellinus the Younger,…
…of intimal hyperplasia following a vein graft procedure.
Vein 10 and 11 stalked and…
…fed directly by the portal vein, whatever crosses the intestinal epithelium…
Vein 3 from near angle of…
In the same vein as above, it is important…
…the presence of a large vein of coal.
In the Kermesiinae, the claval veins fuse near the apex and…
…applied to the internal jugular vein.
…richness: "This monster gold bearing vein was 60% gold."

(Examples are Wikipedia snippets under the CC ShareAlike 3.0 license. Definitions drawn from WordNet.)

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