an effort to appear to have a quality not really or fully possessed; the pretense of actual possession:
an affectation of interest in art; affectation of great wealth.
2.
conspicuous artificiality of manner or appearance; effort to attract notice by pretense, assumption, or any assumed peculiarity.
3.
a trait, action, or expression characterized by such artificiality:
a man of a thousand affectations.
4.
Obsolete.
strenuous pursuit, desire, or aspiration.
affection; fondness:
his affectation of literature.
Origin
1540-50; < Latinaffectātiōn- (stem of affectātiō) a striving after, equivalent to affectāt(us), past participle of affectāre to affect2 (see -ate1) + -iōn--ion
The affectation for authenticity that reviewers flattered themselves for wanting does not stand above the character on the screen.
He has something to tell, and he tells it clearly and without affectation.
Nonfunctional fender vent, right, is an affectation.
Traditional cooking is nothing more than pointless affectation.
Beyond these bits of mild nonsense and odd affectation are real merit and considerable merriment.
Wisely, he jettisoned this affectation in favor of a more conventional appetizer-and-main-course approach.
Instead, his direction is calm and selective, extremely artful in its affectation of detachment.
The name is perfect, conveying as it does the affectation of no affectation.
But affection and affectation don't sit well together.
It's part of the job requirements and not some narcissistic affectation.
British Dictionary definitions for affectation
affectation
/ˌæfɛkˈteɪʃən/
noun
1.
an assumed manner of speech, dress, or behaviour, esp one that is intended to impress others
2.
(often foll by of) deliberate pretence or false display: affectation of nobility
Word Origin
C16: from Latin affectātiōn- an aiming at, striving after, from affectāre; see affect²
Word Origin and History for affectation
n.
"studied display," 1540s, from French affectation (16c.) or directly from Latin affectationem (nominative affectatio) "a striving after, a claiming," noun of action from past participle stem of affectare "to strive for" (see affect (v.2)).