Affectation
noun
Behaviour or speech that isn't genuine and is done to impress others.
Her kindness was merely an affectation, designed to get her popular
Often appears as...
- great affectation
- air of affectation
Usage tips
Disapproving
noun
An effort to appear to have a quality not really or fully possessed.
His affectation of indifference didn't fool anyone
Often appears as...
- affectation of superiority
- affectation of indifference
noun
A peculiar habit or mannerism, especially one adopted to give a false impression.
Her French accent is just an affectation she picked up while studying abroad
Often appears as...
- affectation of accent
- affectation of style
noun
Behaviour or speech that isn't genuine and is done to impress others.
Her kindness was merely an affectation, designed to get her popular
Often appears as...
- great affectation
- air of affectation
Usage tips
Disapproving
noun
An effort to appear to have a quality not really or fully possessed.
His affectation of indifference didn't fool anyone
Often appears as...
- affectation of superiority
- affectation of indifference
noun
A peculiar habit or mannerism, especially one adopted to give a false impression.
Her French accent is just an affectation she picked up while studying abroad
Often appears as...
- affectation of accent
- affectation of style
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Genuine vs Fake
Affectation often points out a fake action done to look real and impress others.
His laughter was an affectation; he wasn't truly amused.
Pro Tip 2/3Social Impressions
Used to describe actions that people hope will make them look good in social situations.
Her constant charity work was seen as an affectation by her colleagues.
Pro Tip 3/3Unfavorable Connotation
Usually has a negative tone, implying the person is being insincere.
His concern for the environment was mere affectation.
Pro Tip 1/3Genuine vs Fake
Affectation often points out a fake action done to look real and impress others.
His laughter was an affectation; he wasn't truly amused.
Pro Tip 2/3Social Impressions
Used to describe actions that people hope will make them look good in social situations.
Her constant charity work was seen as an affectation by her colleagues.
Pro Tip 3/3Unfavorable Connotation
Usually has a negative tone, implying the person is being insincere.
His concern for the environment was mere affectation.
Pro Tip 1/3Genuine vs Fake
Affectation often points out a fake action done to look real and impress others.
His laughter was an affectation; he wasn't truly amused.
Pro Tip 2/3Social Impressions
Used to describe actions that people hope will make them look good in social situations.
Her constant charity work was seen as an affectation by her colleagues.
Pro Tip 3/3Unfavorable Connotation
Usually has a negative tone, implying the person is being insincere.
His concern for the environment was mere affectation.
Compare with
artificialityostentationposeposturepretensionshowinesssinceritysuperficiality
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Video examples
Chip Kidd: The art of...
and it's been tagged like crazy. Now whether you look at this and think, "Oh, that's a charming urban affectation," or you look at it and say, "That's illegal abuse of property," the one thing I think we can all agree on is that you cannot read it.
Video examples
Chip Kidd: The art of...
and it's been tagged like crazy. Now whether you look at this and think, "Oh, that's a charming urban affectation," or you look at it and say, "That's illegal abuse of property," the one thing I think we can all agree on is that you cannot read it.
Example 1 of 1
Quote examples
Sam Harris
American Author
Spiritual life can certainly follow the pattern one sees in the fake martial arts, with most teachers making nebulous and magical claims that never get tested, while their students derange themselves with weird ideas, empty rituals, and other affectations.
Quote examples
Maya Angelou
American Poet
I'm a religious woman. And I feel I have responsibility. I have no modesty at all. I'm even afraid of it - it's a learned affectation and it's just stuck on me like decals. Now I pray for humility because that comes from inside out.
Quote examples
Zadie Smith
British Novelist
My life is black and white and mixed. My mother's a Rastafarian, my dad was a short white guy - it's not an affectation. It's also the lives of millions of people throughout the world.
Quote examples
John Ruskin
English Writer
There is never vulgarity in a whole truth, however commonplace. It may be unimportant or painful. It cannot be vulgar. Vulgarity is only in concealment of truth, or in affectation.
Quote examples
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
Russian Author
I can say without affectation that I belong to the Russian convict world no less than I do to Russian literature. I got my education there, and it will last forever.
Quote examples
Francesca Annis
English Actress
I'm trying to learn to smoke, which is rather weird when everyone is trying to stop. I'm not a smoker. But my character only smokes as an affectation.
Quote examples
Jean Baudrillard
French Sociologist
Cowardice and courage are never without a measure of affectation. Nor is love. Feelings are never true. They play with their mirrors.
Quote examples
Josh Billings
American Comedian
One of the best temporary cures for pride and affectation is seasickness; a man who wants to vomit never puts on airs.
Quote examples
Ralph Waldo Emerson
American Philosopher
Truth is handsomer than the affectation of love. Your goodness must have some edge to it, else it is none.
Quote examples
Jacques Barzun
American Educator
Great cultural changes begin in affectation and end in routine.
Quote examples
Sam Harris
American Author
Spiritual life can certainly follow the pattern one sees in the fake martial arts, with most teachers making nebulous and magical claims that never get tested, while their students derange themselves with weird ideas, empty rituals, and other affectations.
Quote examples
Maya Angelou
American Poet
I'm a religious woman. And I feel I have responsibility. I have no modesty at all. I'm even afraid of it - it's a learned affectation and it's just stuck on me like decals. Now I pray for humility because that comes from inside out.
Quote examples
Zadie Smith
British Novelist
My life is black and white and mixed. My mother's a Rastafarian, my dad was a short white guy - it's not an affectation. It's also the lives of millions of people throughout the world.
Quote examples
John Ruskin
English Writer
There is never vulgarity in a whole truth, however commonplace. It may be unimportant or painful. It cannot be vulgar. Vulgarity is only in concealment of truth, or in affectation.
Quote examples
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
Russian Author
I can say without affectation that I belong to the Russian convict world no less than I do to Russian literature. I got my education there, and it will last forever.
Quote examples
Francesca Annis
English Actress
I'm trying to learn to smoke, which is rather weird when everyone is trying to stop. I'm not a smoker. But my character only smokes as an affectation.
Quote examples
Jean Baudrillard
French Sociologist
Cowardice and courage are never without a measure of affectation. Nor is love. Feelings are never true. They play with their mirrors.
Quote examples
Josh Billings
American Comedian
One of the best temporary cures for pride and affectation is seasickness; a man who wants to vomit never puts on airs.
Quote examples
Ralph Waldo Emerson
American Philosopher
Truth is handsomer than the affectation of love. Your goodness must have some edge to it, else it is none.
Quote examples
Jacques Barzun
American Educator
Great cultural changes begin in affectation and end in routine.
Example 1 of 10
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