Episode Overview
Podcast: Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day
Episode: Ostentatious (August 18, 2025)
Host: Peter Sokolowski
This episode introduces and explores the meaning, origin, and usage of the adjective "ostentatious." Peter Sokolowski provides listeners with definitions, context, and examples of "ostentatious," helping to enrich vocabulary by connecting the word to everyday use and its linguistic roots.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Definition and Spelling of "Ostentatious"
- (00:41) Peter Sokolowski introduces the word "ostentatious," spelling it out:
- "O S T E N T A T I O U S, ostentatious is an adjective."
- The core meaning is explained as:
- "It describes someone or something that displays wealth, knowledge or power in a way that is meant to attract attention, admiration or envy."
- Noted that things described as ostentatious "tend to stand out as overly elaborate or conspicuous."
2. Example in Context
- (01:05) Sokolowski provides a real-world sentence to illustrate usage:
- Quote:
"Here’s the word used in a sentence from the Independent: Valentino presented a dizzying display at Paris Haute Couture Week, fusing the past and present in theatrical ostentatious designs."
- Quote:
3. Etymology: Roots and Persistence of Meaning
- (01:20) The host delves into the origin of the word:
- Both "ostentatious" and the related noun "ostentation" can be traced to the Latin verb ostentare, meaning "to display."
- Emphasizes that "the idea of display persists in the English word's current use."
- Quote:
- "People and things described as ostentatious seem to be practically begging to be looked at." (01:30)
4. Usage in Modern English
- (01:36) Application to objects and lifestyles:
- Typically refers to "objects and buildings that can also be described as luxurious—flashy jewelry, mansions, edifices with marble columns."
- An "ostentatious lifestyle" suggests spending "money in a way that makes it obvious that they have a lot of it."
- (01:52) Negative constructions are discussed:
- Example: “The house is large but not ostentatious”—here, the implication is that display isn't the intention.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On the essence of ostentatious:
- "People and things described as ostentatious seem to be practically begging to be looked at." — Peter Sokolowski (01:30)
- On lifestyle:
- "Someone with an ostentatious lifestyle spends money in a way that makes it obvious that they have a lot of it." (01:46)
- On subtlety vs. display:
- "When used in negative constructions, as in 'the house is large but not ostentatious,' the implication is that display isn't the point." (01:52)
Key Timestamps
- 00:41: Introduction and spelling of "ostentatious"
- 01:05: Example sentence from The Independent
- 01:20: Etymology—origin from Latin ostentare
- 01:36: Application to objects and lifestyles
- 01:52: Discussion of negative constructions
Tone and Style
- Clear, informative, and slightly playful, true to the Merriam-Webster style
- Focus on practical understanding and memorability rather than dry definition
Summary
This episode succinctly introduces "ostentatious," giving listeners not only the definition and spelling but also an etymological background and usage in context. Sokolowski’s explanations make the word relevant to contemporary life—highlighting how it applies to architecture, fashion, and lifestyles—and his examples and commentary illuminate the nuances of showing off versus simply having.