Definition of ostentation
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
Read the Latest from M-W
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 of ostentation from the Web
-
The vanity architecture often rivals Zaha Hadid’s whimsy or the Donald’s ostentation.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ostentation'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of ostentation
Middle English ostentacion, from Middle French, from Latin ostentation-, ostentatio, from ostentare to display, frequentative of ostendere
First Known Use: 15th century
OSTENTATION Defined for English Language Learners
ostentation
playDefinition of ostentation for English Language Learners
-
: an unnecessary display of wealth, knowledge, etc., that is done to attract attention, admiration, or envy
Learn More about ostentation
-
See words that rhyme with ostentation Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for ostentation Spanish Central: Translation of ostentation Nglish: Translation of ostentation for Spanish speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up ostentation? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!