pretence

[ pri-tens, pree-tens ]

/ prɪˈtɛns, ˈpri tɛns /

noun Chiefly British.

pretense.

Nearby words

Definition for pretence (2 of 2)

pretense

[ pri-tens, pree-tens ]

/ prɪˈtɛns, ˈpri tɛns /

noun

pretending or feigning; make-believe: My sleepiness was all pretense.

a false show of something: a pretense of friendship.

a piece of make-believe.

the act of pretending or alleging falsely.

a false allegation or justification: He excused himself from the lunch on a pretense of urgent business.

insincere or false profession: His pious words were mere pretense.

the putting forth of an unwarranted claim.

the claim itself.

any allegation or claim: to obtain money under false pretenses.

pretension (usually followed by to): destitute of any pretense to wit.

pretentiousness.

Also especially British, pre·tence.

Origin of pretense

1375–1425; late Middle English < Anglo-French < Medieval Latin *praetēnsa, noun use of feminine of praetēnsus, past participle (replacing Latin praetentus) of praetendere to pretend

SYNONYMS FOR pretense

1 shamming.

2 semblance.

3 mask, veil.

Related formspre·tense·ful, adjectivepre·tense·less, adjective

Can be confusedpretense pretext

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for pretence

Although Vanessa comforted herself with the pretence that I had two fathers, in reality—emotional reality, that is—I had none.
House of Cads: Growing Up Amid the Weirdness of Bloomsbury|Jessica Ferri|April 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Kelly, however, goes a step further and abandons any pretence of subtlety.
R. Kelly’s Craziest Lyrics From ‘Black Panties,’ Analyzed|Chancellor Agard|December 3, 2013|DAILY BEAST
At his most devastating, Ellison abandons any pretence of literary realism.
American Nightmare: Ralph Ellison’s ‘Invisible Man’ at 60|Nathaniel Rich|June 28, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The latest addition to the most-wanted list, Hafeez Saeed, the head of Lashkar-e-Taiba, does not even make any pretence of hiding.
Obama’s Deal With Afghanistan Underscores Its Crucial Role in the War on Terror|Bruce Riedel|May 3, 2012|DAILY BEAST

We can't disguise hostility towards any religion behind the pretence of liberalism.
Obama's Egypt Address|The Daily Beast Video|June 4, 2009|DAILY BEAST
This incident served Henry as a pretence for his severity towards that prince.
The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.I., Part C.|David Hume
We will leave these poor devils, in pity, to trade with others; but they must not delay us to make a pretence of earning money.
No Thoroughfare|Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins
Go boldly up to him, and invent some pretence to address him, or wait in this angle of deep shade, and see what would happen next?
In the Days of My Youth|Amelia Ann Blandford Edwards
And I bowed again and walked past her like she was a stage character, which she was, being a pretence and nothing else.
Mary Cary|Kate Langley Bosher
This I could not understand, and therefore make no pretence to remember it; for my brain is not mathematical.
Dariel|R. D. Blackmore

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

Word Origin and History for pretence

pretense

also pretence, early 15c., "the putting forth of a claim," from Anglo-French pretensse, Middle French pretensse (Modern French prétense), from Medieval Latin noun use of fem. of Late Latin praetensus, altered from Latin praetentus, past participle of praetendere (see pretend). Meaning "false or hypocritical profession" is from 1540s.