ostentation

American  

[os-ten-tey-shuhn, -tuhn-] / ˌɒs tɛnˈteɪ ʃən, -tən- /

noun

1. pretentious or conspicuous show, as of wealth or importance; display intended to impress others.

   Synonyms:

   extravagance, pretense, pretension, affectation

2. Archaic. the act of showing or exhibiting; display.

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ostentation British  

/ ˌɒstɛnˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. pretentious, showy, or vulgar display

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Usage

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.

Other Word Forms

• nonostentation noun

Etymology

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 -ate ¹ ) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

And she has gold lozenges painted all around the perimeter of her shroud, done tastefully, without obvious ostentation.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 20, 2026

Bardot had left instructions that her funeral be conducted without fanfare or ostentation - but the people of Saint-Tropez wanted to pay her a proper adieu on Wednesday.

From BBC • Jan. 7, 2026

If you excuse the ostentation of the sentiment, Watters is absolutely correct.

From Slate • Mar. 8, 2025

Sunday afternoon at Walt Disney Concert Hall, his arm movements lacked ostentation and could barely be seen from behind.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 10, 2023

There was none of that crude, ugly ostentation about dying that was so common outside the hospital.

From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller