Pretense definition

prētĕns, prĭ-tĕns
pretenses
See word origin
Frequency:
Something imagined or pretended.
noun
8
1
A false appearance or action intended to deceive.
noun
4
0
A false show of something.
noun
3
0
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.

noun
2
1
Pretentiousness; ostentation.
noun
4
4
Advertisement
A claim or assertion to a right, especially a false one.
noun
0
0
A professed but feigned reason or excuse; a pretext.

Left the room under the pretense of having to make a phone call.

noun
0
0
The quality or state of being pretentious; ostentation.

So modest as to be free from any hint of pretense.

noun
0
0
A false or studied show; an affectation.

Models making a pretense of nonchalance.

noun
0
0
A false claim or profession.
noun
0
0
Advertisement
A pretending, as at play; make-believe.
noun
0
0
(rare) Aim; intention.
noun
0
0
A pretentious act or remark.
noun
0
0
(US) A false or hypocritical profession, as, under pretense of friendliness.
noun
0
0
Intention or purpose not real but professed.

Without pretense of accuracy.

noun
0
0
Advertisement
An unsupported claim made or implied.
noun
0
0
An insincere attempt to reach a specific condition or quality.
noun
0
0
A claim, esp. an unsupported one, as to some distinction or accomplishment; pretension.
noun
0
1
A false reason or plea; pretext.
noun
0
1

Other Word Forms

Noun

Singular:
pretense
Plural:
pretenses

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.

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

  • The committee abandoned any pretense that it was serious about the reform of our public services.

  • Poyet - This book includes all the basic information about wine "minus the pretense" and "absent the arrogance".

More sentences

Related articles

Also Mentioned In

Words near pretense in the Dictionary