pretense

British, pre·tence

[pri-tens, pree-tens]

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.

Other Word Forms

• pretenseful adjective
• pretenseless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pretense¹

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

If there were any doubt left, the painful images of the White House literally being torn down have made it crystal clear: The president is not the least concerned about the pretense of propriety.

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Becerra told ProPublica he believes the suspicion of drugs at the party was a pretense to pull people out of the house so ICE officers who lacked a warrant could take them into custody.

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Even the slightest touch from a resident was construed as an “attack” that was then used to justify street brawls under the ludicrous pretense of self-defense.

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“I urge my colleagues…to act swiftly to vacate the majorty’s order before the illegal deployment of troops under false pretenses can occur,” she wrote.

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“I urge my colleagues on this court to act swiftly to vacate the majority’s order before the illegal deployment of troops under false pretenses can occur,” Graber wrote.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• charade 
• cloak 
• pretext 
• semblance 
• veneer