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⇱ pretense - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

pretense

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UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/prɪˈtens/

US:USA pronunciation: IPAUSA pronunciation: IPA/prɪˈtɛns, ˈpritɛns/

US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(pri tens′, prē′tens)



WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
pre•tense /prɪˈtɛns, ˈpritɛns/USA pronunciation   n. 
  1. an act or instance of pretending;
    (an instance of) make-believe: [countable]a pretense of friendship.[uncountable]It's all pretense; he has no intention of cutting our budget.
  2. an apparent claim that seems true but is false:[countable]to obtain money under false pretenses.
See -tend-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
pre•tense  (pri tens′, prē′tens),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. British Termspretending or feigning;
    make-believe:My sleepiness was all pretense.
  2. British Termsa false show of something:a pretense of friendship.
  3. British Termsa piece of make-believe.
  4. British Termsthe act of pretending or alleging falsely.
  5. British Termsa false allegation or justification:He excused himself from the lunch on a pretense of urgent business.
  6. British Termsinsincere or false profession:His pious words were mere pretense.
  7. British Termsthe putting forth of an unwarranted claim.
  8. British Termsthe claim itself.
  9. British Termsany allegation or claim:to obtain money under false pretenses.
  10. British Termspretension (usually fol. by to):destitute of any pretense to wit.
  11. British Termspretentiousness.
Also,[esp. Brit.,] pretence. 
  • Medieval Latin *praetēnsa, noun, nominal use of feminine of praetēnsus, past participle (replacing Latin praetentus) of praetendere to pretend
  • Anglo-French
  • late Middle English 1375–1425
pre•tense′ful, adj. 
pre•tense′less, adj. 
    1. shamming. 2. semblance. 3. mask, veil.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
pre•tence  (pri tens′, prē′tens),USA pronunciation n. [Chiefly Brit.]
  1. British Termspretense.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
pretence, US pretense /prɪˈtɛns/ n
  1. the act of pretending
  2. a false display; affectation
  3. a claim, esp a false one, to a right, title, or distinction
  4. make-believe or feigning
  5. a false claim or allegation; pretext
  6. a less common word for pretension
'pretense' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

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