Pretense meaning

prē'tĕns', prĭ-tĕns'
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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A claim or assertion to a right, especially a false one.
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Pretentiousness; ostentation.
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Something imagined or pretended.
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A claim, esp. an unsupported one, as to some distinction or accomplishment; pretension.
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A false claim or profession.
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A false show of something.
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A pretending, as at play; make-believe.
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Aim; intention.
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A pretentious act or remark.
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(US) A false or hypocritical profession, as, under pretense of friendliness.
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Intention or purpose not real but professed.

Without pretense of accuracy.

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An unsupported claim made or implied.
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An insincere attempt to reach a specific condition or quality.
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A false reason or plea; pretext.
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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 pretend
    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
  • From Middle French pretensse, from Late Latin prætensus, past participle of prætendere (“to pretend"), from præ- (“before") + tendere (“to stretch"); see pretend.
    From Wiktionary

Pretense Sentence Examples

  • From the pretense of illness, from his daughter's distress, and by the embarrassed faces of Sonya and Marya Dmitrievna, the count saw clearly that something had gone wrong during his absence, but it was so terrible for him to think that anything disgraceful had happened to his beloved daughter, and he so prized his own cheerful tranquillity, that he avoided inquiries and tried to assure himself that nothing particularly had happened; and he was only dissatisfied that her indisposition delayed their return to the country.

  • Without any pretense she was now afraid of everything.

  • But much as all the rest laughed, talked, and joked, much as they enjoyed their Rhine wine, saute, and ices, and however they avoided looking at the young couple, and heedless and unobservant as they seemed of them, one could feel by the occasional glances they gave that the story about Sergey Kuzmich, the laughter, and the food were all a pretense, and that the whole attention of that company was directed to-- Pierre and Helene.

  • The princess, picking up her dress, was taking her seat in the dark carriage, her husband was adjusting his saber; Prince Hippolyte, under pretense of helping, was in everyone's way.

  • These predators often make contact with kids through chat rooms and/or e-mail and often under the pretense of being kids themselves.

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Also Mentioned In

Words near pretense in the Dictionary