Entry Word: pretension

Function: noun

Meaning: 1 an entitlement to something <a pretension of long standing to the throne of Hungary> — see claim 1
2 an exaggerated sense of oneʼs importance that shows itself in the making of excessive or unjustified claims <a woman full of pretension and pompousness> — see arrogance
3 the quality or state of appearing or trying to appear more important or more valuable than is the case <the pretension of that French restaurant is more than I can bear> — see pretense 1
4 something that one hopes or intends to accomplish <has serious pretensions of becoming a writer> — see goal