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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.
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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, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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 Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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