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Synonyms

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
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.

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

"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

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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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 • Dec. 24, 2025

There was a baby-knit culotte and matching polo with Gucci stripe detailing, worn without pretension.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 22, 2023

And just built up this pretension of being OK, and he wasn’t OK.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 13, 2023

A male student, Seamus, thinks it — and the general atmosphere of pretension and victimhood in the seminar — so ridiculous he vows to write a retaliatory poem called “Gorgon’s Head.”

From New York Times • May 21, 2023

In disliking them, I was forced to recognize my own pretension, and that made me hate them even more.

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.