affectation

[ af-ek-tey-shuhn ]

/ ˌæf ɛkˈteɪ ʃən /

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See synonyms for affectation on Thesaurus.com

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.

OTHER WORDS FOR affectation

1 appearance, facade, pose, pretense, simulation.

2 pretension, airs, mannerisms.

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OPPOSITES FOR affectation

2 artlessness, simplicity, sincerity.

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QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

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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 affect², -ate¹,-ion

OTHER WORDS FROM affectation

non·af·fec·ta·tion, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH affectation

affectation , affection

Words nearby affectation

affaire d'amour, affaire de coeur, affaire d'honneur, affairs, affect, affectation, affected, affecting, affection, affectional, affectional orientation

How to use affectation in a sentence

My growing affectation for him aside, Ethan Winters isn’t likely to enter the pantheon of great video game characters.
The real tragedy of Ethan Winters, Resident Evil’s ‘Village’ idiot|Gene Park|May 14, 2021|Washington Post
It is the sort of affectation a bad man might pick up after too many viewings of “The Shining.”
Capitol rioters searched for Nancy Pelosi in a way that should make every woman’s skin crawl|Monica Hesse|February 11, 2021|Washington Post
Cringe is only possible in a cultural and political moment like ours, when we have so effectively surrounded ourselves with those who share our affections and affectations.
We live in a golden age of cringe|Sonny Bunch|January 27, 2021|Washington Post
She finds your old-fashioned affectations sweet, but more than that she craves what you have, the information you have carried in your body for so many decades.
Dark spaces on the map|Katie McLean|December 18, 2020|MIT Technology Review

He signed off with a certain affectation, an identifiable term, so I'm not using it here.
Carolyn Hax: She swiped right, and now it feels so, so wrong|Carolyn Hax|November 23, 2020|Washington Post
What is a distinctive habit or affectation related to the writing process?
How I Write: Michael Connelly|Noah Charney|January 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
What is a distinctive habit or affectation of yours related to writing?
How I Write: Jared Diamond|Noah Charney|November 20, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Fashion affectation, though, was lost on Liebling, whose military-issue slacks fit so loosely they flapped in the breeze.
The Story of the American Journalists Who Landed on D-Day|Timothy M. Gay|June 6, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Saturn in your sign will keep things real, refining elements in your make-up that smack of affectation.
Horoscopes: The Week of March 27|Starsky + Cox|March 26, 2011|DAILY BEAST
And he replied shortly, and with a slight charming affectation of pride: "I did without."
Hilda Lessways|Arnold Bennett
To me the national affectation of piety and holiness resembles a white shirt put on over a dirty skin.
God and my Neighbour|Robert Blatchford
Her affectation of extreme youth was so absurdly ridiculous, that it made her appear older and uglier than she really was.
The World Before Them|Susanna Moodie
Avoid affectation; it is the sure test of a deceitful, vulgar mind.
The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness|Florence Hartley
He is a stranger to affectation—that dangerous rock to the would-be wit; he is natural, and is witty without trying to be a wit.
Friend Mac Donald|Max O'Rell

British Dictionary definitions 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 Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

affectation

OTHER WORDS FOR affectation

OPPOSITES FOR affectation

Origin of affectation

OTHER WORDS FROM affectation

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH affectation

Words nearby affectation

Words related to affectation

How to use affectation in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for affectation

Word Origin for affectation