Fanfaronade

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˌfænfɛɹəˈneɪd/

Definitions

1. A display of boastfulness and ostentation aimed at captivating an audience
2. An exaggerated show of bravado and self-importance intended to garner admiration
3. A pompous and showy manner intended to impress others

Etymology: The word arrived in English from French "fanfaronnade," meaning bragging or boasting, and that French form itself grew out of "fanfaron," a braggart. The French noun carried the core sense of swaggering talk, and English kept that flavour: a fanfaronade is a display meant to impress onlookers, not a real act of courage. Its shape is a little puzzling at first, since it looks like a relative of "fanfare," and the two have indeed mingled. That mingling is the surprising part. Although the bragging sense descends from the French, English speakers also associated the word with "fanfare," the brassy trumpet flourish used to announce something grand. The overlap made the idea of a noisy, attention-seeking display feel even more natural, so the word's connotation of showy noise was reinforced over time.