Ostentation definitions

ŏs'tĕn-tā'shən, -tən-
Ostentation is an overdone, pretentious, vulgar or tacky display of wealth or knowledge.

An example of ostentation is a solid gold toilet seat with diamond-studded flusher.

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Pretentious display meant to impress others; pretentious showiness.
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The act or an instance of showing; an exhibition.
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Showy display, as of wealth or knowledge; pretentiousness.
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Ambitious display; vain show; display intended to excite admiration or applause.
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Origin of ostentation

Originated 1425-75 from late Middle English ostentacioun, from Middle French ostentation, from Latin ostentātiō, equivalent to ostentātus (past participle of ostentāre, to display or exhibit), frequentative of ostendere (to present, display) + -iōn.

Sentence Examples

  • His library of 70,000 volumes was one of his forms of ostentation, and so was his gallery of pictures.

  • He had been accused of vanity and ostentation in his office, but his reputation for ability and integrity as a judge was high even with his enemies.

  • " I am not conscious," says he, " of having ever bought a book from a motive of ostentation; every volume, before it was deposited on the shelf, was either read or sufficiently examined "; he also mentions that he soon adopted the tolerating maxim of the elder Pliny, that no book is ever so bad as to be absolutely good for nothing.

  • At the most important crisis of his life in 1783, he almost made an ostentation of disorder and of indifference not only to appearances, but even to decency.

  • and love of ostentation,"so no value whatever was attached by the orthodox party to the sacraments performed by heretics.

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Words near ostentation in the Dictionary