pretension

1 of 2

noun

pre·​ten·​sion pri-ˈten(t)-shən 

1

: an allegation of doubtful value : pretext

2

: a claim or an effort to establish a claim

3

: a claim or right to attention or honor because of merit

4

: an aspiration or intention that may or may not reach fulfillment

has serious literary pretensions

5

: vanity, pretentiousness

pretensionless

pri-ˈten(t)-shən-ləs 

adjective

pretension

2 of 2

verb

pre·​ten·​sion ˌprē-ˈten(t)-shən 

pretensioned; pretensioning; pretensions

transitive verb

: prestress

Synonyms of pretension

Noun

• right
• claim
• pretense

Choose the Right Synonym for pretension

ambition, aspiration, pretension mean strong desire for advancement.

ambition applies to the desire for personal advancement or preferment and may suggest equally a praiseworthy or an inordinate desire.

driven by ambition

aspiration implies a striving after something higher than oneself.

an aspiration to become president someday

pretension suggests ardent desire for recognition of accomplishment often without actual possession of the necessary ability and therefore may imply presumption.

has literary pretensions

Examples of pretension in a Sentence

Noun

He spoke about his achievements without pretension.

I admire his honesty and lack of pretension.

The restaurant offers excellent food without pretension.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The nation was to be purged of continual sin not indeed all of its own doing—due partly to its inheritance; and yet a sin, a negation that gave the world the right to sneer at the pretensions of this republic. —James Folta, Literary Hub, 23 Jan. 2026

This action comedy is audacious in portraying the pretensions of show business. —Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Jan. 2026

The pilot isn’t quite sure what makes Arthur funny, alternating between jokes about his artistic pretensions and his extreme whiteness. —Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 18 Jan. 2026

Drop the pretension of a late-night club and lean into a space-filled with incredible music and community (and the pleasant glow of daylight). —Britt Julious, Chicago Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from Late Latin praetensiōn-, praetensiō "action of pretending, deceiving" (Medieval Latin, "allegation, assertion"), from Latin praetendere "to hold or stretch out, put forward as a pretext" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at pretend entry 1

Verb

pre- + tension entry 2

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1936, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pretension

• attention
• contention
• convention
• declension
• detention
• dimension
• dissension
• distension
• extension
• intension
• invention
• laurentian

Kids Definition

pretension

noun

pre·​ten·​sion

pri-ˈten-chən

1

: pretense sense 1

2

: something one hopes to reach : aspiration, ambition

has serious pretensions as a writer

3

: pretense sense 2