Word
pretense
Phoneticspre·tense, stress on the second syllable
/pɹiˈtɛns/
UK spelling · pretence
Definitions
01false appearance
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a way of behaving that hides your real feelings or the truth.
n. the act of pretending or a false representation intended to deceive or to hide one's true nature.
“She kept up a pretense of being happy even though she was very sad.”
“The meeting was held under the pretense of a social gathering, though everyone knew the real purpose was to discuss the merger.”
02a false claim
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Formal
n. a claim to have a certain skill or quality that you do not actually have.
n. a claim made or implied, especially one that is not supported by fact.
Español:cubierta
“The prince had no real pretense to the throne after the revolution.”
“The document was a complete fabrication, created solely to support his pretense to the family estate.”
Synonyms
03showing off
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Formal
n. behavior that is intended to impress people by acting more important than you are.
n. affectation or ostentation of manner; a lack of naturalness or sincerity in one's behavior.
“I liked the small restaurant because it was simple and had no pretense.”
“The artist's work was refreshing for its lack of academic pretense, focusing instead on raw emotional impact.”
Synonyms
Usage
Often used in the singular with the definite article ('the pretense') or as an uncountable concept. Frequently followed by the preposition 'of'.
Pitfall
He made a pretense to be sick
He made a pretense of being sick
The noun is typically followed by 'of' plus a gerund or noun phrase, rather than an infinitive clause.
Real-World Examples
“Scammers worm their way into a victim’s heart to gain access to their money through false pretenses.” Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French pretensse, from Late Latin praetēnsus, past participle of Latin praetendō (“to pretend”), from prae- (“before”) + tendō (“to stretch”); see pretend.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0