The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 10 letter word EGOCENTRIC
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
E
G
O
C
E
N
T
R
I
C
More clues leading to the result EGOCENTRIC
- Self-absorbed chap possessing energy and money
- Leave some money in Morecambe in vain
- Try getting a bit in Morecambe in vain
- Around the end of night shift, concierge becomes selfish
- Chap distanced from German conceit, terribly selfish
- Say nothing about stupid cretin, the selfish one
- Self-absorbed before playing one short concerto, say
- Being this? Ergo endless conceit, sadly
- Gregory is seen to be so self-centred
- Selfish guest finally interrupts flustered concierge
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "in vain" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case in vain = egocentric.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does EGOCENTRIC mean?
EGOCENTRIC noun- A person who is egocentric.
- Selfish, self-centered
- Egotistical.
- Relating to spatial representations: linked to a reference frame based on one's own location within the environment (as when giving the direction as "right" rather than "north"); opposed to allocentric.