pretence

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

noun Chiefly British.

pretense.

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Words nearby pretence

preta, pretarsal, pretarsus, pretax, preteen, pretence, pretend, pretended, pretender, pretense, pretension

Definition for pretence (2 of 2)

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

noun

Also especially British, pre·tence.

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”; see origin at pretend

SYNONYMS FOR pretense

1 shamming.
2 semblance.
3 mask, veil.

OTHER WORDS FROM pretense

pre·tense·ful, adjectivepre·tense·less, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH pretense

pretense pretext
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for pretence

British Dictionary definitions for pretence

pretence

US pretense

/ (prɪˈtɛns) /

noun

the act of pretending
a false display; affectation
a claim, esp a false one, to a right, title, or distinction
make-believe or feigning
a false claim or allegation; pretext
a less common word for pretension (def. 3)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012