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

While Ross’ style undeniably calls attention to itself, the director is prescient enough to know that some will see his untraditional mode as a mere affectation.

From Salon • Dec. 13, 2024

With no affectation whatsoever, and a voice directly wired to her emotions, she makes Lucille our way into a story we might rather turn away from.

From New York Times • Mar. 16, 2023

Outside of news and sports and awards ceremonies, live television has been something of an affectation since the 1950s: a stunt, a gimmick, occasionally an aesthetic experiment.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 5, 2023

Some said that what we saw as a lack of intelligence was in fact a regional affectation: Walker speaks the way many Black people in Georgia speak.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 7, 2022

Rollins noted Brekker’s bare feet and prison clothes, the hands shorn of his legendary black gloves—a ridiculous affectation.

From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo