pretense

noun

pre·​tense ˈprē-ˌten(t)s 

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 pretense

—Bennett 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

: make-believe, fiction

6

: false show : simulation

saw through his pretense of indifference

Synonyms

• affectation
• affectedness
• grandiosity
• inflation
• pretension
• pretentiousness

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

Relationships can endure an awful lot, the play asserts, but not false intimacy—not the pretense of something that should be sacred. —Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 24 Dec. 2024

Soka University Disturbingly, even while not issuing credit, many of these colleges and universities let students waive out of the introductory classes—giving the pretense of some benefit but with no loss of tuition revenue for the school. —Paul Weinstein Jr., Forbes, 22 Dec. 2024

Under these pretenses, Wrapped is an abject failure, a cheap magic trick that momentarily distracts you from the gun being held to the back of your head. —Brady Brickner-Wood, The New Yorker, 10 Dec. 2024

When those negotiations begin and under what pretenses will shape the outcome. —Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, TIME, 10 Dec. 2024

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

Phrases Containing pretense

• abandon/drop all pretense at
• make a pretense of
• under/on the pretense of

Kids Definition

pretense

noun

pre·​tense

variants or pretence

ˈprē-ˈten(t)s  pri-ˈten(t)s 

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