pretense

noun

pre·​tense ˈprē-ˌten(t)s How to pronounce pretense (audio)
pri-ˈten(t)s
variants or pretence
1
: a claim made or implied
especially : one not supported by fact
2
a
: mere ostentation : pretentiousness
confuse dignity with pomposity and pretenseBennett Cerf
b
: a pretentious act or assertion
3
: an inadequate or insincere attempt to attain a certain condition or quality
4
: professed rather than real intention or purpose : pretext
was there under false pretenses
5
6
: false show : simulation
saw through his pretense of indifference

Examples of pretense in a Sentence

We tried to keep up the pretense that everything was fine. Their indifference is merely pretense.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Trump Administration has significantly weakened America's national security infrastructure under the false pretense of government efficiency, by reducing staffing at the Departments of Defense and State, FBI, CIA, USAID, and others despite increasing global threats. Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, TIME, 24 Mar. 2025 The Trump administration’s harrowing detention of Palestinian student activist Mahmoud Khalil — and the broader repression of student activism on campuses across the country — is being sold to the public under the false pretense of ensuring Jewish safety. Adam Jaffe, New York Daily News, 18 Mar. 2025 View the data Yes, but: By comparison, people filed 1,227 reports alleging they were ripped off under romantic pretenses. Thomas Wheatley, Axios, 17 Mar. 2025 For more about how to instruct generative AI on doing pretenses, also known as personas, see my discussion at the link here. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pretense

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, "assertion of a legal right, claim, reason, basis, feigning," borrowed from Anglo-French pretence, pretens "assertion of one's right," probably borrowed from Medieval Latin praetensē or praetensō "by way of assertion or allegation, allegedly, fictitiously," respectively adverbial derivative and masculine/neuter ablative singular of praetensus, praetentus "pretended, alleged," past participle of Latin praetendere "to hold or stretch out, put forward as a pretext" — more at pretend entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pretense was in the 15th century

Cite this Entry

“Pretense.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pretense. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

pretense

noun
pre·​tense
variants or pretence
1
: a claim usually not supported by facts
2
: the quality or state of being pretentious
free from pretense
3
: an effort to reach a certain condition or quality
let's have some pretense of order around here
the book makes no pretense at completeness
4
: a pretended purpose
was there under false pretenses
5
: a false show : simulation
a pretense of indifference

More from Merriam-Webster on pretense

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