Ostentatious
Meaning
Displaying wealth, knowledge, or possessions in a showy way designed to attract attention and admiration, often to an excessive or vulgar degree.
Origin
The essence of 'ostentatious' stretches all the way back to ancient Rome. It stems from the Latin verb 'ostentare,' meaning 'to show, to display,' which itself comes from 'ostendere'—literally, 'to stretch out in front of.' Picture a merchant in the Forum, not just showing wares, but dramatically stretching them out, demanding attention. This idea of putting something—or oneself—conspicuously on display, often with a hint of excessive self-importance, carried straight into English by the late 16th century. It captured the behavior of those who didn't just display wealth or talent, but flaunted it, turning every presentation into a performance.
Examples
- Her ostentatious diamond necklace glittered under the spotlights, drawing every eye in the room.
- The politician's grand pronouncements were often dismissed as an ostentatious display of ego rather than genuine policy.