affectation; ostentation; vanity
A somewhat literary or formal word for showing off one's knowledge, talent, or refinement in a pretentious way. Often used in the phrase 衒気がない (unpretentious).
There is no affectation in the way he speaks.
That author's writing is too ostentatious and hard to read.
Composed of 衒 (to show off, display) and 気 (spirit, mood). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the compound has been used in literary Japanese to denote a pretentious or affected attitude.