affectation
[ af-ek-tey-shuhn ]
/ ˌæf ɛkˈteɪ ʃən /
noun
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.
conspicuous artificiality of manner or appearance; effort to attract notice by pretense, assumption, or any assumed peculiarity.
a trait, action, or expression characterized by such artificiality: a man of a thousand affectations.
Obsolete.
- strenuous pursuit, desire, or aspiration.
- affection; fondness: his affectation of literature.
RELATED WORDS
artificiality, show, pose, appearance, mannerism, simulation, insincerity, facade, pretentiousness, airs, imitation, pretension, front, put-on, air, pretense, sham
Nearby words
- affaire d'amour,
- affaire d'honneur,
- affaire de coeur,
- affairs,
- affect,
- affected,
- affectedly,
- affecting,
- affection,
- affectional
Origin of affectation
SYNONYMS FOR affectation
ANTONYMS FOR affectation
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for affectation
affectation
/ (ˌæfɛkˈteɪʃən) /
noun
an assumed manner of speech, dress, or behaviour, esp one that is intended to impress others
(often foll by of) deliberate pretence or false displayaffectation of nobility
Word Origin for affectation
C16: from Latin affectātiōn- an aiming at, striving after, from affectāre; see affect ²
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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affectation
"studied display," 1540s, from French affectation (16c.) or directly from Latin affectationem (nominative affectatio) "a striving after, a claiming," noun of action from past participle stem of affectare "to strive for" (see affect (v.2)).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper