pretension

¹ American  

[pri-ten-shuhn] / prɪˈtɛn ʃən /

noun

1. the laying of a claim to something.

   Synonyms:

   profession, assertion

2. a claim or title to something.

3. Often pretensions a claim made, especially indirectly or by implication, to some quality, merit, or the like.

   They laughed at my pretensions to superior judgment.

4. a claim to dignity, importance, or merit.

5. pretentiousness.

   Synonyms:

   pretense, airs, affectation

6. the act of pretending or alleging.

7. an allegation of doubtful veracity.

8. a pretext.

   Synonyms:

   excuse

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pretension ² American  

[pree-ten-shuhn] / priˈtɛn ʃən /

verb (used with object)

1. (in prestressed-concrete construction) to apply tension to (reinforcing strands) before the concrete is poured; prestress.

2. to make (a concrete member) with pretensioned reinforcement.

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pretension British  

/ prɪˈtɛnʃən /

noun

1. (often plural) a false or unsupportable claim, esp to merit, worth, or importance

2. a specious or unfounded allegation; pretext

3. the state or quality of being pretentious

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Etymology

Origin of pretension¹

First recorded in 1400–50; from Medieval Latin praetēnsiōn- (stem of praetēnsiō ); pretense, -ion

Origin of pretension²

First recorded in 1935–40; pre- + tension

Example Sentences

And directors Bailey and Barbato seem intent on casting Louisville as a place of poseurs and pretensions.

From The Wall Street Journal

In short, it was perfect for an adolescent boy of burgeoning but unformed pretensions.

From The Wall Street Journal

The gap between European pretensions and European reality has become a chasm.

From The Wall Street Journal

In some ways the films seem to invite accusations of pretension, of reach exceeding grasp and grandeur stretched into grandiosity.

From The Wall Street Journal

The movie became a reference by which the absurdities of real-life rock ’n’ roll pretension would forever be measured.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• conceit
• hypocrisy
• pomposity
• snobbery