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

Prosecutors portrayed Combs and his associates as luring female victims, often under the pretense of a romantic relationship.

From Los Angeles Times

His publicists invited her under the pretense of a business dinner with Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour, then White surprised Dobrev instead.

From Los Angeles Times

Masked migra swept across Southern California under the pretense of rounding up criminals.

From Los Angeles Times

All pretense that ICE is targeting immigrants with criminal records has gone out the window.

From Los Angeles Times

Admittedly, much of social life consists of maintaining a thin pretense of normality.

From Salon

Related Words

• charade 
• cloak 
• pretext 
• semblance 
• veneer