ostentation
Ambitious display; vain show; display intended to excite admiration or applauseAmbitious display; vain show; display intended to excite admiration or applause.
» Tom did it all with characteristic ostentation.
Meaning
3 senses(uncountable, usually)Ambitious display; vain show; display intended to excite admiration or applause.
Zurschaustellung, Schaustellung, Pomp
показное проявле́ниеpokaznoje projavlénije, хвастовствоxvastovstvo, выставление напоказvystavlenije napokaz
(collective, uncountable, usually)A group of peafowl.
(obsolete, uncountable, usually)A show or spectacle.
Schau, Spektakel, Zurschaustellung
демонстра́цияdemonstrácija
- pretentious or showy or vulgar display
- lack of elegance as a consequence of being pompous and puffed up with vanity
- a gaudy outward display
Examples
3 sentencesTom did it all with characteristic ostentation.
In English, a group of peacocks can be called "an ostentation of peacocks"!
The Lord Keeper only received society out of policy or ostentation, and was by nature rather reserved and unsociable.
Translations
4 languagesBy meaning 2
By meaning 2
Origin
Originated 1425–75 from late Middle English ostentacioun, borrowed from Middle French osteOriginated 1425–75 from late Middle English ostentacioun, borrowed from Middle French ostentation and its etymon Latin ostentātiō, ostentātiōnem, equivalent to ostentātus (past participle of ostentāre, to display or exhibit), frequentative of ostendere (“to present, display”) + -iōn. By surface analysis, ostent + -ation.
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Forms
plural: ostentations| Singular | ostentation |
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uncountable
Synonyms
16 synonyms- lack of elegance as a consequence of being pompous and puffed up with vanity:ostentatiousnesspompositypompousnesspretentiousnesspuffinesssplashinessinflation
- a gaudy outward display:fanfareflash
Word family
6 related wordsLessons for this word
1 lessons- A1Countable and uncountable nouns — Because it can be uncountable