Affectation Meaning

/ˌæf.ɛkˈteɪ.ʃən/
C2

Definition, CEFR level C2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

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nounAn attempt to assume or exhibit what is not natural or real; false display; artificial show.

nounAn unusual mannerism.

I don’t see any content in his statements besides clowning, affectation, and pretentiousness.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
His fake British accent was just an ____; he actually grew up in Texas.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Her British accent was an ____ that she used to seem more sophisticated.

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂éd Proto-Italic *ad Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁k- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *dʰh₁kyéti Proto-Italic *θakjō Proto-Italic *fakjō Proto-Italic *adfakjō Proto-Italic *adfaktāō Latin affectō Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *-Hō Proto-Indo-European *-tiHō Proto-Italic *-tiō Latin -tiō Latin affectātiōder. Middle French affectationbor. ▲ Latin affectātiōbor. English affectation From Middle French affectation and its etymon Latin affectātiōnem, from affectō (“to feign”). By surface analysis, affect + -ation.

"This poem is strongly tinctured with those pedantic affectations concerning the passion of love ..." — 1810, Dr. Samuel Johnson, “Life of Gower”, in The Works of the English Poets, Digitized edition, published 2009:
"[T]hey were not the spoiled children of affectation and refinement, but a bold, vigorous, independent race of thinkers, with prodigious strength and energy, with none but natural grace, and heartfelt unobtrusive delicacy." — 1820, William Hazlitt, “Lecture I. Introductory.”, in Lectures Chiefly on the Dramatic Literature of the Age of Elizabeth. […], London: Stodart and Steuart, […]; Edinburgh: Bell and Bradfute, →OCLC, page 2:
"The grace diuineſt Mercvrie hath done me, / In this vouchſafde diſcouerie of himſelfe, / Binds my obſeruance in the vtmoſt terme / Of ſatisfaction, to his godly will: / Though I profeſſe (without the affectation / Of an enforc’d, and form’d auſteritie) / I could be willing to enioy no place / With ſo vnequall natures." — 1600 (first performance), Beniamin Ionson [i.e., Ben Jonson], “Cynthias Reuels, or The Fountayne of Selfe-Loue. […]”, in The Workes of Beniamin Ionson (First Folio), London: […] Will[iam] Stansby, published 1616, →OCLC, Act V, scene i, page 235:
"Her upper part of decent diſcipline / Shew’d affecation of an ancient line: / And fathers, councils, church and churches head, / Were on her reverend Phylacteries read." — 1687, [John Dryden], “[The First Part]”, in The Hind and the Panther. A Poem, in Three Parts, 2nd edition, London: […] Jacob Tonson […], →OCLC, pages 22–23:
"While for some, women’s lack of knowledge is a matter for censure, throughout the century both male and female writers emphasize that affectation of knowledge, for example when it is not properly assimilated (Du Bosc 1633: 78), and above all pedantry from women, are far more unacceptable." — 2004, Wendy Ayres-Bennett, “Women’s ‘ignorance’”, in Sociolinguistic Variation in Seventeenth-Century France: Methodology and Case Studies, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: Cambridge University Press, →ISBN, chapter 4 (Women’s language), […], page 121:

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CEFR Practice Quiz
His fake British accent was just an ____; he actually grew up in Texas.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Her British accent was an ____ that she used to seem more sophisticated.

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