What does vaporous mean?
Vaporous is a literary adjective describing something filled with, composed of, or suggestive of vapor. Its literal use evokes mist, haze, steam, or cloudlike formations, as in a vaporous atmosphere above a lake. The word can also characterize writing, speech, promises, or ideas as vague, insubstantial, and unreal. This figurative use often carries a skeptical or dismissive tone, suggesting that something has more impressive appearance than solid substance. Vaporous is related in meaning to gaseous, misty, and hazy, but it generally has a more poetic or elevated register than those everyday terms. It is also occasionally used of things that resemble vapor without necessarily containing it. Although less common than vaporous forms of expression such as “full of vapor,” the adjective remains useful for concise, evocative description, particularly in literary contexts.
adjectiveConsisting of, filled with, or resembling vapor; misty or cloudlike. In extended literary use, so vague or insubstantial as to seem unreal.
- Consisting of, filled with, or containing much vapor.
- Resembling vapor in appearance or character; misty, hazy, or cloudlike.
- So vague, insubstantial, or unreal as to seem made of vapor.
"A vaporous mist hovered over the river as the sun rose."
"A vaporous mist hovered over the river as the sun rose."
"His vaporous promises dissolved when challenged with concrete questions."
Vaporous does double duty: it can mean literally misty—or figuratively so unreal it seems made of steam.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does vaporous come from?
Vaporous was formed in English during the 17th century from vapor plus the adjective-forming suffix -ous, with senses modeled on Latin vaporosus, meaning “full of vapor.” Vapor comes through Old French vapour from Latin vapor, meaning “steam” or “mist.” The same Latin root also underlies related English forms such as vapour, vaporize, and vaporizer.
Related word forms
How vaporous is actually used
The word is literary and relatively uncommon in everyday speech. Its figurative sense can be dismissive, describing ideas, claims, or promises as insubstantial or unreal. The adjective is spelled the same way in British and American English.
Easily confused with vaporous
A vapor is the gaseous substance itself, whereas a vaporous thing is characterized by containing, resembling, or suggesting vapor.