Ostentatious
adj. /ˌɒstenˈteɪʃəs/ (اوسٹینٹَیشَس)Characterized by vulgar or pretentious display, designed to impress or attract notice.
Ostentatious Meaning in Urdu
In everyday Urdu, ostentatious describes wealth or success shown off deliberately to impress others.
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1
Showy display, especially of wealth, meant to impress othersنمائشی، دکھاوے کے لیے شاندار
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2
Excessively elaborate or noticeable in a way designed to attract attentionتوجہ حاصل کرنے کے لیے حد سے زیادہ نمایاں
“Ostentatious” almost always describes wealth or status shown off in an excessive, attention-seeking way.
Word Details
| Word | Ostentatious |
| Part of Speech | Adjective |
| CEFR Level | C1 |
| Difficulty | Ielts |
| Urdu Meaning | نمائشی، دکھاوے کے لیے شاندار |
| English Meaning | Showy display designed to impress or attract attention |
| Pronunciation | /ˌɒstenˈteɪʃəs/ |
| Word Type | Formal, negative adjective |
| Commonness | Common in social and cultural commentary writing |
Pronunciation
Simple English Explanation
Use “ostentatious” for a showy display of wealth or success meant to impress others — a huge gold watch, an oversized mansion, or a wedding designed mainly to show off.
اردو وضاحت
“Ostentatious” ایسی نمائش کے لیے استعمال ہوتا ہے جو دولت یا کامیابی دکھانے کے لیے جان بوجھ کر شاندار بنائی جائے۔
Example Sentences
Synonyms
Nuance: “Flashy” is more casual and can apply to clothes or style generally; “ostentatious” is more formal and specifically implies the display is meant to show off wealth or status to others.
Antonyms
Common Collocations
Word Family
| Form | Word |
|---|---|
| Adjective | Ostentatious |
| Noun | Ostentation |
| Adverb | Ostentatiously |
There is no standard verb form of “ostentatious” in modern English.
Ostentatious vs Pretentious
“Pretentious” is broader — it covers trying to appear more intelligent, cultured, or important than one really is, in speech, writing, or behaviour.
“Ostentatious” is narrower and more specific to visible, material display — usually of wealth or luxury — meant to impress or draw attention, like an oversized house or expensive jewellery.
Common Mistakes
✓ She gave a thoughtful answer to the difficult question.
Ostentatious describes showy material display, not verbal or intellectual style — use “pretentious” for that instead.
IELTS Usage
Writing: Useful in Task 2 essays about consumerism, wealth inequality, or social values.
Speaking: Works in Part 3 discussions about lifestyle, wealth, and status symbols.
Example: “Ostentatious spending on luxury goods is sometimes seen as a way to signal social status.”
MDCAT / Academic Usage
Not scientific vocabulary; occasionally appears in MDCAT English comprehension passages about sociology or cultural studies rather than science content.
Word Origin / Etymology
From Latin ostentare (“to display, show off”), frequentative of ostendere (“to show”). Entered English in the 16th century with the sense of showy display.
Memory Tip
Think “osten-TATIOUS” sounds like “ostentation” — imagine a peacock showing off its feathers purely to be noticed.
Mini Quiz
1. Meaning of “ostentatious”:
2. Correct sentence:
3. Antonym of “ostentatious”:
4. Noun form:
5. Which best fits:
6. Root meaning:
Score: 0 / 6
FAQs
What is the meaning of ostentatious in Urdu?
Ostentatious means نمائشی، دکھاوے کے لیے شاندار — showy display, especially of wealth, meant to impress others.
Is ostentatious a noun, verb, or adjective?
Adjective; the noun form is ostentation and the adverb is ostentatiously.
What are the synonyms of ostentatious?
Showy, flashy, flamboyant, extravagant, and gaudy — with nuance explained above.
What is the opposite of ostentatious?
Modest, understated, and discreet.
What is the difference between ostentatious and pretentious?
Pretentious covers trying to seem more intelligent or cultured than one is; ostentatious specifically refers to showy material display of wealth or status.
Is ostentatious useful for IELTS?
Yes, especially in essays or discussions about wealth, consumerism, or social values, as shown in the IELTS Usage section above.