ostentation

noun

os·​ten·​ta·​tion ˌä-stən-ˈtā-shən 

1

: excessive display : vain and unnecessary show especially for the purpose of attracting attention, admiration, or envy : pretentiousness

She dresses stylishly without ostentation.

an aesthetic preference for function over ostentation

—Wendell Garrett

their ostentation of new wealth and their prodigality with it

—Mark Sullivan

2

archaic : an act of displaying

Synonyms

• pomp
• ornamentation
• spectacle
• flamboyance
• decoration
• glitz
• ostentatiousness
• luxuriance
• luxuriousness
• gaudiness
• showiness
• pretentiousness
• garishness
• flashiness
• swank

Examples of ostentation in a Sentence

The actress avoids ostentation. She owns a small house and drives an inexpensive car.

He writes simply and clearly and without ostentation.

Recent Examples on the Web

As high heels become less of a requisite in certain arenas, the Cannes red carpet — whose ostentation is rivaled only by the Met Gala or the Oscars — is something of a final frontier. —Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 24 May 2025

The pink-and-brown mansion, often considered a monument to Roaring 20s ostentation, stretches from Lake Worth to the Atlantic Ocean and contains 58 bedrooms, 33 bathrooms, three bomb shelters, a theater, a ballroom and a nine-hole golf course. —Miami Herasld Archives, Miami Herald, 7 Jan. 2025

The mansion, often considered a monument to Roaring ‘20s ostentation, stretches from the Intracoastal to the Atlantic Ocean. —Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 7 Jan. 2025

As with Yamamoto-san’s suit, my comfort and pleasure would be the biggest factors here; there would be no room for ostentation. —Gary Shteyngart, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ostentacion "display meant to evoke admiration," borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Latin ostentātiōn-, ostentātiō "act of displaying, excessive display," from ostentāre "to hold up to view, display, show ostentatiously, flourish" (frequentative of ostendere "to hold out for inspection, show, demonstrate") + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at ostensible

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for ostentation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

ostentation

noun

os·​ten·​ta·​tion ˌäs-tən-ˈtā-shən 

: unnecessary show to attract attention, admiration, or envy