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ostentation
[ os-ten-tey-shuhn, -tuhn- ]
/ ˌɒs tɛnˈteɪ ʃən, -tən- /
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noun
pretentious or conspicuous show, as of wealth or importance; display intended to impress others.
Archaic. the act of showing or exhibiting; display.
OTHER WORDS FOR ostentation
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Origin of ostentation
1425–75; late Middle English ostentacioun<Middle French ostentation<Latin ostentātiōn- (stem of ostentātiō), equivalent to ostentāt(us) past participle of ostentāre to display, exhibit, frequentative of ostendere to present, display (equivalent to os-, var of ob-ob- + ten(dere) to stretch + -t- frequentative suffix + -ātus-ate1) + -iōn--ion
OTHER WORDS FROM ostentation
non·os·ten·ta·tion, nounWords nearby ostentation
ostensibly, ostensive, ostensive definition, ostensorium, ostensory, ostentation, ostentatious, osteo-, osteoanagenesis, osteoarthritis, osteoarthropathy
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
WHEN TO USE
What are other ways to say ostentation?
Ostentation is the pretentious or conspicuous showing of one’s wealth or importance. How does ostentation compare to show, display, and pomp? Learn more on Thesaurus.com.
How to use ostentation in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for ostentation
ostentation
/ (ˌɒstɛnˈteɪʃən) /
noun
pretentious, showy, or vulgar display
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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