Affectation
/ˌæfɛkˈteɪʃən/
nounC2
Definition
Affectation means when someone acts in a way that is not natural or true to themselves. They do this to appear more important, clever, or interesting to other people. It often feels fake or forced to others.
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See It in Action
A fake or unnatural way of speaking, behaving, or dressing to impress others
- •Her British accent was an affectation she used to seem more sophisticated.
- •He put on an affectation of confidence, but he was very nervous inside.
- •The actor’s affectation made his character seem less believable.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "affectation" like "acting" but not as a fun play; it is more like pretending in real life to seem different or better.
- ✓Picture a person speaking with a very strange or old-fashioned accent, even though they don’t really speak that way.
- ✓It’s the feeling when you meet someone who seems to be trying too hard to be cool or smart.
- ✓Sounds like "af-fect-TAY-shun" → imagine someone "affecting" (pretending) a fancy way to talk or walk to get attention.
- ✓Think of a character in a movie who always uses big words to seem smarter, but it feels unnatural.
- ✓NOT like "natural behavior" (what someone really is), affectation is a fake or forced way to behave.
- ✓NOT like "habit" (something you do without thinking), affectation is done on purpose to impress others.
Try Other Words
- •Pretense: pretending to be something you are not (Use when the fake behavior is general, not just about style)
- •Pose: a way of acting to impress others (Use when the behavior is about showing off)
- •Mannerism: a habitual way of behaving (Use when the behavior is natural but unusual, not forced)
- •Insincerity: not being honest or real (Use when affectation shows lack of truth in feelings)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "affect-" (to act on or pretend) + "-ation" (a noun suffix showing action or process)
- •Etymology: From Latin "affectatio," meaning striving after or a pretended effort
- •Historical development: Originally meant a striving or effort, later took the meaning of artificial behavior to impress others
- •Modern usage: Used to describe behavior or style that seems fake or forced to attract attention or approval
Reflect & Connect
•Why do people sometimes use affectation instead of being themselves?
•How can you tell the difference between natural style and affectation in others?
Fill in the blanks
1.She spoke with an affectation ___ made her sound more educated than she really was.
2.His affectation of ___ confidence disappeared when he was alone.
3.Unlike natural charm, affectation often feels ___ and forced.
4.People use affectation to ___ others or seem different.
5.The actor’s affectation was a ___ to hide his true personality.
6.When someone drops their affectation, they usually become more ___.
7.Affectation often comes with ___ behavior that does not match true feelings.