pretense

American  

[pri-tens, pree-tens] / prɪˈtɛns, ˈpri tɛns /

British, pretence

noun

1. pretending or feigning; make-believe.

   My sleepiness was all pretense.

2. a false show of something.

   a pretense of friendship.

   Synonyms:

   semblance

3. a piece of make-believe.

   Synonyms:

   veil, mask

4. the act of pretending or alleging falsely.

5. a false allegation or justification.

   He excused himself from the lunch on a pretense of urgent business.

6. insincere or false profession.

   His pious words were mere pretense.

7. the putting forth of an unwarranted claim.

8. the claim itself.

9. any allegation or claim.

   to obtain money under false pretenses.

10. pretension (usually followed byto ).

    destitute of any pretense to wit.

11. pretentiousness.

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Other Word Forms

• pretenseful adjective
• pretenseless adjective

Etymology

Origin of pretense

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Anglo-French, from unattested Medieval Latin praetēnsa, noun use of feminine of praetēnsus, past participle (replacing Latin praetentus ) of praetendere “to put forward, stretch forth, pretend”; pretend

Example Sentences

Well, at least he could drop the pretense.

From Literature

It was an uncompromising response without any pretense the administration would rely on independent investigations of the event, video of which quickly circulated online, gripping the nation.

From Los Angeles Times

She had been through life’s fires and knew that when it’s a fit, it should not be based on any false pretense.

From Los Angeles Times

Five days earlier, at around 7 a.m., the couple had crossed the border into Kazakhstan in a hired Toyota Hiace van, under the pretense of taking a vacation.

From The Wall Street Journal

The question then becomes: Will fans still tune into college games when there’s no pretense the players are students?

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• charade
• cloak
• pretext
• semblance
• veneer