affectation

American  

[af-ek-tey-shuhn] / ˌæf ɛkˈteɪ ʃən /

noun

1. an effort to appear to have a quality not really or fully possessed; the pretense of actual possession.

   an affectation of interest in art; affectation of great wealth.

2. conspicuous artificiality of manner or appearance; effort to attract notice by pretense, assumption, or any assumed peculiarity.

   Synonyms:

   airs, pretension, simulation, pretense, pose, facade, appearance

   Antonyms:

   sincerity, simplicity

3. a trait, action, or expression characterized by such artificiality.

   a man of a thousand affectations.

4. Obsolete.

   1. strenuous pursuit, desire, or aspiration.

   2. affection; fondness.

      his affectation of literature.

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affectation British  

/ ˌæfɛkˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. an assumed manner of speech, dress, or behaviour, esp one that is intended to impress others

2. (often foll by of) deliberate pretence or false display

   affectation of nobility

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Other Word Forms

• nonaffectation
  noun

Etymology

Origin of affectation

First recorded in 1540–50; from Latin affectātiōn- (stem of affectātiō ) “a striving after,” equivalent to affectāt(us), past participle of affectāre “to strive after, feign” + -iōn- a suffix forming nouns; see affect ², -ate ¹, -ion

Explanation

The guy at your local coffee shop who's never left the state but speaks as though he's lived in London all his life? His British accent is an affectation. Never confuse affectation with affection — which means “love” or “tenderness.” While affection might not always be genuine, affectation is never the real thing. In fact, affectation is all about faking it. Do you believe the politician cares about poor people, or do you think his concern is an affectation?

Example Sentences

Affectation like this makes good copy and, judging from Dillinger, bad movies.

From Time Magazine Archive

Affectation is an awkward and forced imitation of what should be genuine and easy, wanting the beauty that accompanies what is natural what is natural.

From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary by Webster, Noah

Affectation is worse than obtuseness, for obtuseness is at least honest: it may mend its ways.

From Practical Ethics by Hyde, William De Witt

Affectation, in a woman, is supportable upon no other ground than that general indulgence we pay to the omnipotence of beauty, which in a degree sanctifies whatever it adopts.

From The Works of William Hogarth: In a Series of Engravings With Descriptions, and a Comment on Their Moral Tendency by Trusler, John

I promise you, colleague, to speak of it to Marat; he will consider the matter," responded Billaud-Varenne with a touch of irony; and he muttered to himself: "Affectation again.

From The Sword of Honor, volumes 1 & 2 or The Foundation of the French Republic, A Tale of The French Revolution by Sue, Eug?ne