pretense

noun

pre·​tense ˈprē-ˌten(t)s 

pri-ˈten(t)s

variants or pretence

1

: a claim made or implied

especially : one not supported by fact

2

a

: mere ostentation : pretentiousness

confuse dignity with pomposity and pretense

—Bennett Cerf

b

: a pretentious act or assertion

3

: an inadequate or insincere attempt to attain a certain condition or quality

4

: professed rather than real intention or purpose : pretext

was there under false pretenses

5

: make-believe, fiction

6

: false show : simulation

saw through his pretense of indifference

Synonyms

• affectation
• pretension

Examples of pretense in a Sentence

We tried to keep up the pretense that everything was fine.

Their indifference is merely pretense.

Recent Examples on the Web

Workers in the scam compounds are often trafficked from third countries, usually under the pretense of a lucrative job offer, and then forced to scam people online with investment pitches or romantic ploys. —Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2025

Did Gacy’s attorney, Sam Amirante, agree to represent him on false pretenses and later struggle to be his lawyer? —Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025

Under this pretense, wearing a MAGA hat in a Google office or entertaining eugenicist ideas about race and intelligence was a way of daring to go where liberals feared to tread. —Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2025

Under the pretense of a back-to-school rules review, the sophomore through senior classes at Ruskin were treated to a stirring drumline performance before a shocked Sixta took the the stage. —Ilana Arougheti updated October 7, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, "assertion of a legal right, claim, reason, basis, feigning," borrowed from Anglo-French pretence, pretens "assertion of one's right," probably borrowed from Medieval Latin praetensē or praetensō "by way of assertion or allegation, allegedly, fictitiously," respectively adverbial derivative and masculine/neuter ablative singular of praetensus, praetentus "pretended, alleged," past participle of Latin praetendere "to hold or stretch out, put forward as a pretext" — more at pretend entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing pretense

• abandon/drop all pretense at
• make a pretense of
• under/on the pretense of

Rhymes for pretense

• commence
• condense
• defence
• defense
• dispense
• expense
• fourpence
• halfpence
• immense
• incense
• intense
• missense

Kids Definition

pretense

noun

pre·​tense

variants or pretence

ˈprē-ˈten(t)s  pri-ˈten(t)s 

1

: a claim usually not supported by facts

2

: the quality or state of being pretentious

free from pretense

3

: an effort to reach a certain condition or quality

let's have some pretense of order around here

the book makes no pretense at completeness

4

: a pretended purpose

was there under false pretenses

5

: a false show : simulation

a pretense of indifference