affectation

/ˌæfekˈteɪʃn/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌæfekˈteɪʃn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌa-ˌfek-ˈtā-shən/ (ame, mw)

affectation — noun

  • affectationsingular
  • affectationsplural

1. speech, behaviour, or a habit that someone puts on to seem more refined, importa

1.名詞C1
釋義

speech, behaviour, or a habit that someone puts on to seem more refined, important, or unusual than they really are

例句

Camila's slow foreign accent at dinner was pure affectation.

collocation: pure affectation

The critic dismissed his hand kisses and long pauses as empty affectation.

pattern: dismiss [behaviour] as affectation

同義詞
  • pretension

    broader and often tied to social status or claims of importance; affectation focuses more on the manner being put on

  • pose

    more informal and often suggests a deliberately chosen image rather than a general style of speech or behaviour

  • mannerism

    can be neutral and may simply mean a repeated habit; affectation is specifically unnatural or showy

反義詞
  • sincerity

    emphasises genuine feeling and honesty rather than a performed manner

  • naturalness

    focuses on behaviour that feels unforced and genuine

  • genuineness

    stresses being real and unpretended in character or expression

文法句型

affectation of + [voice/style]

pure affectation

see [something] as affectation

用法筆記

Usually used critically, especially for speech, gestures, taste, or social style that seem performed for an audience. It can be uncountable for an overall manner and countable for one specific artificial habit.

常見錯誤

❌Her formal smile was very affectation.
✅Her formal smile was pure affectation.
💡'Affectation' is a noun, so use it as the thing being judged, not as an adjective.
❌He spoke with an affectation voice.
✅He spoke in an affected voice.
💡Use 'affected' to describe the voice itself; 'affectation' names the artificial quality or habit.
❌Every small habit was full of affectation.
✅Every small habit was an affectation.
💡Use countable 'an affectation' when you mean one specific put-on mannerism.