affectation

 
Pronunciation: /afɛkˈteɪʃ(ə)n/

noun

[mass noun]
  • behaviour, speech, or writing that is pretentious and designed to impress: the affectation of a man who measures every word for effect [count noun]: she called the room her boudoir, which he thought an affectation
  • [count noun] a studied display of real or pretended feeling: an affectation of calm

Origin:

mid 16th century: from Latin affectatio(n-), from the verb affectare (see affect2)