affectation
[af-ek-tey-shuh n]
- 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.
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Origin of affectation
Synonyms
See more synonyms for affectation on Thesaurus.com2. pretension, airs, mannerisms, pose.
Antonyms
2. artlessness, simplicity, sincerity.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for affectation
Contemporary Examples
What is a distinctive habit or affectation related to the writing process?
What is a distinctive habit or affectation of yours related to writing?
Saturn in your sign will keep things real, refining elements in your make-up that smack of affectation.
Historical Examples
But this is abnormal and rather an affectation of technical skill.
The Dramatic Values in PlautusWilton Wallace Blancke
There was no affectation of the fine lady in her self-reproach.
Within the LawMarvin Dana
There was no affectation of mystery, no attempt at keeping his experiments a secret.
Heroes of the TelegraphJ. Munro
The only source of the true Ridiculous (as it appears to me) is affectation.
Joseph Andrews Vol. 1Henry Fielding
Their affectation is beyond the affectation of woman, and it makes all men sick.
Tales And Novels, Volume 9 (of 10)Maria Edgeworth
affectation
- 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
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Word Origin
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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Word Origin and History for affectation
n.
"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)).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper