conceit
gb/kənsˈit/ us/kənsˈit/
C1
English
~ 8200
önteltség, beképzeltség, alapötlet, központi metafora, önhitt elképzelés, hiú ábránd
NOUN
C1
1
önteltség
B2
beképzeltség
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] is full of conceit about [something]
His conceit made it impossible for him to admit any mistakes.
Önteltsége miatt képtelen volt beismerni a hibáit.
The manager’s sheer conceit alienated everyone in the office.
A menedzser mérhetetlen önteltsége mindenkit elidegenített az irodában.
Her speech was ruined by the conceit that she alone deserved the credit.
They were irritated by the politician’s obvious conceit and self-praise.
Out of pure conceit, he refused to take advice from anyone.
Learner examples
His conceit makes him hard to work with.
Önteltsége miatt nehéz vele együtt dolgozni.
People dislike her because of her conceit.
Az emberek nem kedvelik a nőt az önteltsége miatt.
The actor’s conceit grew after he became famous.
He lost his friends because of his conceit.
Her conceit stops her from saying sorry.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "conceit" with "concept." "Conceit" is about being too proud, while "concept" means an idea. Another mistake is using "conceit" as a verb (e.g., *he conceited himself*), which is incorrect in modern English.
Meaning
excessive pride or vanity
Collocations
full of conceit
|arrogance and conceit
|pure conceit
|his own conceit
|blinded by conceit
|smug conceit
Synonyms
vanity (Often focuses more on being too proud of one’s looks, while "conceit" can be about looks, talent, or general self-importance.)
Antonyms
humility (Humility is having a low or modest opinion of your own importance, which is the opposite attitude of conceit.)
Themes
personality
|emotions
|social
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
The feeling that you are very important, clever, or attractive, in a way that is too proud and not liked by others.
An overly high opinion of one’s own abilities, appearance, or importance; excessive pride or vanity.
NOUN
C2
LITERARY
2
alapötlet
B1
Usage pattern:
the central conceit of [a story/film/work] is that [clause]
The film’s central conceit is that memories can be bought and sold like products.
A film alapötlete az, hogy az emlékeket termékként lehet megvenni és eladni.
In this novel, the main conceit is a city that exists only when people remember it.
Ebben a regényben az alapötlet egy olyan város, amely csak addig létezik, amíg az emberek emlékeznek rá.
The poem’s elaborate conceit compares a broken clock to a wounded heart.
It is a brilliant conceit: the entire play happens inside the character’s mind during one second.
Some critics found the sci‑fi conceit clever but emotionally distant.
Learner examples
The movie’s conceit is that time moves backward.
A film alapötlete az, hogy az idő visszafelé halad.
In this book, the main conceit is a world without sleep.
Ebben a könyvben az alapötlet egy olyan világ, ahol nincs alvás.
The poem uses a strong conceit to link love and war.
The director’s conceit gives the story a strange, dreamlike feeling.
Her story has a simple but powerful conceit.
Common mistake:
Learners may think this meaning of "conceit" is the same as "conceit" meaning pride. In literary discussions, "conceit" usually refers to a creative or organizing idea, not to a writer’s personality. It should not be used to describe a real person’s attitude in this sense.
Meaning
imaginative organizing metaphor
Collocations
the central conceit
|artistic conceit
|narrative conceit
|clever conceit
|extended conceit
|fantastical conceit
Synonyms
premise (Often used more broadly for the basic idea a story is built on; it is less tied to metaphor or stylistic play than "conceit.")
Antonyms
realism (In literary discussion, "realism" suggests a straightforward, lifelike approach, often contrasted with the playful or artificial nature of a literary conceit.)
Themes
literature
|art
|media
|arts_entertainment
|communication
|education
Definition
A special, creative idea or comparison that a writer or artist uses to shape a story, poem, or film.
A highly inventive or extended metaphor or imaginative idea that shapes or organizes a poem, story, film, or other creative work.
NOUN
C2
LITERARY
3
hiú ábránd
C1
Usage pattern:
[something] is a conceit that [clause]
The romantic conceit that love conquers all rarely survives real hardship.
Az a romantikus ábránd, hogy a szerelem mindent legyőz, ritkán éli túl a valódi nehézségeket.
He clung to the conceit that the company could not function without him.
Ahhoz az önhitt elképzeléshez ragaszkodott, hogy a cég nélküle nem tud működni.
It is a comforting conceit to believe that history always moves toward justice.
Her plan was based on the conceit that people act only from pure logic.
The story plays with the conceit that our dreams are messages from another world.
Learner examples
He lives with the conceit that he is a great leader.
Abban az önhitt elképzelésben él, hogy nagyszerű vezető.
The idea that money solves every problem is a conceit.
Az a gondolat, hogy a pénz minden problémát megold, hiú ábránd.
The movie questions the conceit that people are always good inside.
She likes the conceit that her town is the center of the world.
It is a common conceit that success comes easily to talented people.
Common mistake:
Learners may treat this as a very common everyday sense, but in modern English it is more literary and often appears in essays or reviews. In casual speech, words like "idea," "notion," or "fantasy" are usually preferred.
Meaning
fanciful or self-flattering idea
Collocations
romantic conceit
|idle conceit
|silly conceit
|dangerous conceit
|the conceit that [clause]
Synonyms
notion (A general word for an idea; it lacks the sense of being especially unrealistic or self-flattering that "conceit" often has in this sense.)
Antonyms
reality (Opposes the unrealistic or self-flattering nature of a "conceit" by stressing what is actually true.)
Themes
thinking
|emotions
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
An idea that is not very realistic, often making someone feel more important or special than they really are.
A fanciful, often unrealistic idea or notion, especially one that flatters or exaggerates a person’s importance.
Grammar
Dictionary form
conceit
IPA
GB/kənsˈit/
US/kənsˈit/
Syllables & stress
con - ceit (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (ceit)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: conceit
- Plural: conceit, conceits
Word family
Forms
conceits
noun
Core family
conceited
adjective
Related words
conceitedly
adverb
Advanced or less common
conceitedness
noun
Expressions
be full of conceit
1/bˈi fˈʊl əv kənsˈit/
fixed phrase
be very proud and vain
To be very pleased with yourself and think you are better than other people.
Examples
- Ever since the promotion, he has been full of conceit.
- She is so full of conceit that she never listens to advice.
- They said the young star was talented but already full of conceit.
narrative conceit
1/nˈɛɹɪtɪv kənsˈit/
fixed phrase
literary
imaginative device shaping a story
A creative idea or trick that the writer uses to shape how a story is told.
Examples
- The book’s narrative conceit is that each chapter is written by a different future version of the hero.
- This narrative conceit allows the author to move quickly through many years of the character’s life.
- The narrative conceit is clever, but some readers may find it confusing.
the central conceit
1/ðə sˈɛntɹəl kənsˈit/
fixed phrase
literary
main imaginative idea in a work
The main creative idea that shapes the story, poem, film, or other work.
Examples
- The central conceit of the novel is that people can trade years of their life for money.
- Critics praised the central conceit but felt the characters were weak.
- Once you understand the central conceit, the rest of the play makes sense.