pretense

pre·tense

Use pretense in a sentence

noun

The definition of a pretense is a false impression, a false claim or an attempt to make a falsehood appear true.

An example of a pretense is when you pretend to be friends with someone you don't like.
An example of a pretense is when you claim to be an expert in something you aren't.

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"pretense." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 18 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Pretense>.

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pretense. (n.d.). Retrieved March 18th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Pretense

pretense

a claim, esp. an unsupported one, as to some distinction or accomplishment; pretension
a false claim or profession
a false show of something
a pretending, as at play; make-believe
a false reason or plea; pretext
Rare aim; intention
pretentiousness; ostentation
a pretentious act or remark

Origin of pretense

Middle English from Anglo-French pretensse from Medieval Latin an unverified form pretensa from praetensus, alleged from past participle of Classical Latin praetendere: see pretend

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"pretense." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 18 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Pretense>.

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pretense. (n.d.). Retrieved March 18th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Pretense

pretense

noun

a. A false appearance or action intended to deceive: “He ran the back of his hand up her cheek, with the pretense of wiping away sweat” ( Jonathan Safran Foer )
b. A professed but feigned reason or excuse; a pretext: left the room under the pretense of having to make a phone call.
Something imagined or pretended: “Ardor had atrophied and weariness had taken its place … their connection was pretense” ( Deborah Weisgall )
a. The quality or state of being pretentious; ostentation: so modest as to be free from any hint of pretense.
b. A false or studied show; an affectation: models making a pretense of nonchalance.
A claim or assertion to a right, especially a false one: “a celebrity with scarcely any pretense to talent or achievement” ( Joseph Epstein )

Origin of pretense

Middle English from Old French pretensse from Medieval Latin praetēnsa from Late Latin feminine of praetēnsus alteration of Latin praetentus past participle of praetendere to pretend, assert ; see pretend .

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"pretense." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 18 March 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Pretense>.

APA Style

pretense. (n.d.). Retrieved March 18th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Pretense

Noun

(plural pretenses)

(US) A false or hypocritical profession, as, under pretense of friendliness.
Intention or purpose not real but professed.
without pretense of accuracy
An unsupported claim made or implied.
An insincere attempt to reach a specific condition or quality.

Anagrams

Origin

From Middle French pretensse, from Late Latin prÃ¦tensus, past participle of prÃ¦tendere (“to pretend"), from prÃ¦- (“before") + tendere (“to stretch"); see pretend.

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.