affectation
noun/ˌæfekˈteɪʃn/
/ˌæfekˈteɪʃn/
[countable, uncountable]- behaviour or an action that is not natural or sincere and that is often intended to impress other people
- His little affectations irritated her.
- Kay has no affectation at all.
- He raised his eyebrows with an affectation of surprise (= pretending to be surprised).
- He speaks clearly and without affectation.
Word Originmid 16th cent.: from Latin affectatio(n-), from the verb affectare ‘aim at’, frequentative of afficere ‘work on, influence’, from ad- ‘at, to’ + facere ‘do’.
Check pronunciation:
affectation