Ostentation
collective noun /ˌɒstənˈteɪʃən/ — A group of peacocks — named for the very quality they embody.
Definition
The collective noun for a group of peacocks. The word means showy display — and was applied to peacocks with obvious, perfect logic.
Beyond the definition
Peacocks were literally designed by evolution to be as visible as possible. A word that means ostentatious display is the only honest name for a group of them. Nature and language agree.
Origin & history
From Latin ostentatio — a showing off (ostendere: to show, display). In collective noun tradition, animals are often named for the feeling they inspire. Peacocks inspire the feeling of ostentatious display, which is probably fair.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
An ostentation of peacocks moved across the lawn as if they owned it — because they believed they did.
The word ostentation is so appropriate it almost seems unfair to the birds.
She described the fashion show as an ostentation — not of peacocks, but of something very similar.
How to use it
Follow this entry’s examples for grammatical form and sentence placement.
Choose “Ostentation” when the meaning fits your context: The collective noun for a group of peacocks. The word means showy display — and was applied to peacocks with obvious, perfect logic.
Synonyms
display, flock, muster
Related words
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Word in focus
An ostentation of peacocks
An ostentation of peafowl gathered on the lawn, their long tails trailing over the grass.
Ostentation is a colourful collective name commonly used for peacocks. The photograph includes male and female peafowl together, not a group of males all displaying their trains.
Image credit: VT98Fan · CC BY-SA 3.0 (license)
Resized and converted to WebP; full composition retained.
Questions about this word
What does "Ostentation" mean?
Ostentation is collective noun meaning: A group of peacocks — named for the very quality they embody.. The collective noun for a group of peacocks. The word means showy display — and was applied to peacocks with obvious, perfect logic.
Where does the word "Ostentation" come from?
From Latin ostentatio — a showing off (ostendere: to show, display). In collective noun tradition, animals are often named for the feeling they inspire. Peacocks inspire the feeling of ostentatious display, which is probably fair.