ostentation

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ostentation

/ˌɒstənˈteɪʃən/

Rhymes with -eɪʃən

Where it comes from

Originated 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.

noun ostentations

uncountable, usually Ambitious display; vain show; display intended to excite admiration or applause. Sir Henry had consumed his substance in ostentation and riotous hospitality—had fed many at his board, made many merry in his halls, but not a friend was in his house of mourning; the very retainers who had grown rich upon his ruin, seemed to deem the burial of their master but a signal for carousin
collective, uncountable, usually A group of peafowl. At times there are more than 100 deer on his property and an ostentation of peacocks.
obsolete, uncountable, usually A show or spectacle. Let her awhile be secretly kept in, And publish it that she is dead indeed: Maintain a mourning ostentation

Thesaurus

noun

Translations

Every language

noun display of excessive show in an attempt to impress others

हिन्दी	आडंबर āḍambar
Français	ostentation
Deutsch	Zurschaustellung, Schaustellung, Pomp, Prahlerei, Prunk, Gepränge
Ελληνικά	επίδειξη epídeixi
Română	ostentație
Русский	показное проявле́ние pokaznoje projavlénije, хвастовство xvastovstvo, выставление напоказ vystavlenije napokaz, рисовка risovka, помпа pompa

noun show or spectacle

Français	spectacle
Deutsch	Schau, Spektakel, Zurschaustellung, Darbietung
Ελληνικά	θέαμα théama
Русский	демонстра́ция demonstrácija

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MLA

"ostentation." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/ostentation. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

ostentation. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/ostentation

Chicago

"ostentation." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/ostentation.

BibTeX

@misc{ostentation_2026,
  title = {ostentation},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/ostentation},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}