ostentation

This term carries a strong negative connotation, suggesting a lack of taste or a desperate need for validation. It describes a performance of status where the display is perceived as excessive or gaudy, rather than a genuine expression of wealth or skill. It is frequently used in critical social commentary to describe the gap between actual value and perceived prestige.

As an uncountable noun, it refers to the general quality or act of showing off. Because it is uncountable, it cannot be pluralized to describe multiple instances of display; instead, one must use partitive phrases such as a show of ostentation or an act of ostentation to specify individual occurrences.