Dictionary

ostentation en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˌɒstənˈteɪʃən/
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

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.

Meanings

1. (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 carousing and license. 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, pages 24–25:
2. (collective, uncountable, usually) A group of peafowl.
   • A full ostentation of peahens who it appeared had been drawn in by the sight of me in my feathered coat, mistaking me for an actual peacock! 2021, Sam Downes, Claude Des Forges, Fashion Follies, Rectangle Books:
   • At times there are more than 100 deer on his property and an ostentation of peacocks. 2001, Business India, A.H. Advani, page 16:
   • Where else in the city can you closely watch an ostentation of peacocks dancing away blissfully without a care in the world or a Kingfisher dive into the lake to devour its meal or even a tree pie watching you from the window ledge? 2006, Wildlife and Biodiversity @ ICRISAT, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, page vi:
3. (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 1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “Much Adoe about Nothing”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]:

Forms

Deriveds

unostentation · nonostentation

Relateds

ostentatious · ostensive · ostensible

Synonyms

parade · show · pompousness · pageantry · pomp · vaunting · boasting · showiness

Translations (44)

fi näytös (display of excessive show in an attempt to impress others) · de Zurschaustellung (show or spectacle) · de Pomp (display of excessive show in an attempt to impress others) · fr ostentation (display of excessive show in an attempt to impress others) · de Ostentation (display of excessive show in an attempt to impress others) · ru выставление напоказ (display of excessive show in an attempt to impress others) · nl show (show or spectacle) · de Spektakel (show or spectacle) · de Darbietung (show or spectacle) · ca ostentació (display of excessive show in an attempt to impress others) · pam pamagpakit-gilas (display of excessive show in an attempt to impress others) · ro ostentație (display of excessive show in an attempt to impress others) · de Prahlerei (display of excessive show in an attempt to impress others) · ru помпа (display of excessive show in an attempt to impress others) · bg показност (display of excessive show in an attempt to impress others) · cs okázalost (display of excessive show in an attempt to impress others) · pl ostentacja (display of excessive show in an attempt to impress others) · tl pagpapakitang-gilas (display of excessive show in an attempt to impress others) · tl pakitang-gilas (display of excessive show in an attempt to impress others) · ru демонстра́ция (show or spectacle) · de Gepränge (display of excessive show in an attempt to impress others) · ru хвастовство (display of excessive show in an attempt to impress others) · hi आडंबर (display of excessive show in an attempt to impress others) · fi näytelmä (display of excessive show in an attempt to impress others) · bg спектакъл (show or spectacle) · lad fiaka (display of excessive show in an attempt to impress others) · ga mustar (display of excessive show in an attempt to impress others) · nl spektakel (show or spectacle) · nl aanstellerij (display of excessive show in an attempt to impress others) · fr spectacle (show or spectacle) · nl uitsloverij (display of excessive show in an attempt to impress others) · el θέαμα (show or spectacle) · el επίδειξη (display of excessive show in an attempt to impress others) · de Schaustellung (display of excessive show in an attempt to impress others) · gl ostentación (display of excessive show in an attempt to impress others) · ru рисовка (display of excessive show in an attempt to impress others) · fi näytös (show or spectacle) · mi hahakitanga (display of excessive show in an attempt to impress others) · de Schau (show or spectacle) · ru показное проявле́ние (display of excessive show in an attempt to impress others) · de Prunk (display of excessive show in an attempt to impress others) · de Zurschaustellung (display of excessive show in an attempt to impress others) · hu kérkedés (display of excessive show in an attempt to impress others) · lad saltanat (display of excessive show in an attempt to impress others)