affectation
nounUK /ˌæf.ekˈteɪ.ʃən/
US /ˌæf.ekˈteɪ.ʃən/
Acting in a fake way to seem special or fancy.
Her British accent was just an affectation she put on at parties.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A behavior or way of speaking that is not natural to the person.
He used big words as an affectation to impress his teacher.
3. An artificial display of manners or feelings.
The bowing and hand-kissing felt like an affectation.
4. A deliberate pretense of having a quality one lacks.
Her love of opera was an affectation to seem cultured.