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.

conspicuous artificiality of manner or appearance; effort to attract notice by pretense, assumption, or any assumed peculiarity.

a trait, action, or expression characterized by such artificiality

a man of a thousand affectations.

Obsolete .

strenuous pursuit, desire, or aspiration.

affection; fondness

his affectation of literature.

noun

naturalness , simplicity

noun

air , airs , appearance , artificiality , facade , false front * , front , going hollywood , imitation , insincerity , mannerism , pose , pretense , pretension , pretentiousness , put-on , putting on airs , sham * , show , showing off , simulation , affectedness , artifice , fakery , hypocrisy , puppetry , sham