variants
or British pretence
plural pretenses
1
: a false reason or explanation that is used to hide the real purpose of something : pretext
He called her under/on the pretense of asking about the homework assignment. [=asking about the homework assignment was not the real reason he called her]
A reporter obtained documents from the company under false pretenses. [=by saying something that was not true, by pretending something, etc.]
2
: an act or appearance that looks real but is false
Their indifference is only a pretense. [=they are only pretending to be indifferent]
We tried to keep up the pretense that everything was fine.
She couldn't even make a pretense of liking him. [=she disliked him so much that she was unable to pretend that she liked him]
Their indifference is merely pretense.
He abandoned/dropped all pretense at politeness. [=he stopped pretending or trying to be polite]
3
formal
: a claim of having a particular quality, ability, condition, etc.
—usually singular
I make no pretense of being a history expert. [=I do not claim/pretend to be a history expert]
Cite this Entry
“Pretense.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/pretense. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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