affectation

[ af-ek-tey-shuhn ]

/ ˌæf ɛkˈteɪ ʃən /

SEE MORE 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.

Words related to affectation

artificiality, show, pose, appearance, mannerism, simulation, insincerity, facade, pretentiousness, airs, imitation, pretension, front, put-on, air, pretense, sham

Words nearby affectation

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

Origin of affectation

1540–50; < Latin affectātiōn- (stem of affectātiō) a striving after, equivalent to affectāt(us), past participle of affectāre to affect² (see -ate¹) + -iōn- -ion

SYNONYMS FOR affectation

2 pretension, airs, mannerisms, pose.

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ANTONYMS FOR affectation

2 artlessness, simplicity, sincerity.

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OTHER WORDS FROM affectation

non·af·fec·ta·tion, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH affectation

affectation affection

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for affectation

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
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
If there is nothing more than acquirement, smartness, and the affectation of philanthropy, Chorley is a fine creature.
Charlotte Bronte and Her Circle|Clement K. Shorter

The florid style is a mixture of affectation and common-place.
Hazlitt on English Literature|Jacob Zeitlin
Fricker was not a gentleman, but, thanks to his quietness and freedom from affectation, it was often possible to forget the fact.
The Intrusions of Peggy|Anthony Hope
There is no affectation of dignity or of knowledge about him, and it is well that there is not.
The Amenities of Book-Collecting and Kindred Affections|A. Edward Newton
There is no affectation in the expression or the pose of the sitter, it is quite easy and natural, and beautifully simple.
Tales of the Wonder Club|M. Y. Halidom (pseud. Dryasdust)

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