Ostentatious

Definition

Characterized by showy or extravagant display intended to impress or attract attention; marked by vulgar or excessive ornamentation. The term carries a connotation of poor taste or arrogance.

Example Usage

His ostentatious gold jewelry and flashy car were meant to flaunt his wealth.

Origin

From Latin 'ostentare' (to display, show off), from 'ostendere' (to stretch out, exhibit).

Fun Fact

The term gained cultural prominence during the Victorian era and became particularly associated with nouveau riche social critiques in 19th-century literature.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)

Related Terms

Advanced

nomical

A rare or non-standard term; potentially related to 'nominal' in linguistics, referring to elements that function like nouns or have noun-like grammatical properties.

🎓 Education / Academia

Beginner

Choreography

The art and practice of creating sequences of movements, typically set to music, for dance performances or other physical entertainment. A choreographer designs and arranges these movements to tell a story, express emotion, or showcase artistic vision.

🎓 Education / Academia

Advanced

Palinody

A formal recantation or retraction of something previously stated; a poem or speech in which the author contradicts their earlier work or opinion. Often used to describe a humiliating reversal of position.

🎓 Education / Academia

Intermediate

pastiche

A creative work that imitates or blends the style of other works, artists, or genres, often in a playful or ironic way without attempting to deceive. A pastiche celebrates or pays homage to its influences rather than trying to pass itself off as original work in the manner of a forgery.

🎓 Education / Academia

Beginner

Lisa Frank

An American artist and businesswoman known for creating wildly colorful, maximalist designs featuring fluorescent neons, whimsical animals, and trippy geometric patterns, primarily on school supplies and stationery starting in the 1980s. Her brand became synonymous with '80s and '90s childhood nostalgia.

🎓 Education / Academia

Intermediate

resume inflation

The academic version of grade inflation where institutional pressure leads to padding CVs with dubious achievements, minor roles elevated to major contributions, and every coffee chat counted as professional development. Everybody does it; nobody admits it.

🎓 Education / Academia

Translate This Term

See “Ostentatious” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.

Try the Translator

Share This Term

Post on X Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIn

Discover a Term

Intermediate

architecturalization

The process of designing or organizing something according to architectural principles, emphasizing structure, framework...