pretense
n. C / Un. a way of behaving that is not honest because you are trying to hide your true feelings or intentions. It is like acting or pretending so that other people believe something that is not true.
n. an attempt to make something that is not the case appear true; a false display of feelings, intentions, or motivations. Often involves a deceptive outward appearance or a claim that lacks a factual basis.
She made a pretense of being interested in his story.
The two rivals maintained a pretense of friendship for the sake of the project, though they rarely spoke in private.
The regime eventually dropped all pretense of democratic process, openly suppressing the opposition and ignoring the results of the recent local elections.
Borrowed from Middle French pretensse, from Late Latin praetēnsus, past participle of Latin praetendō (“to pretend”), from prae- (“before”) + tendō (“to stretch”); see pretend.
Often used in the singular with the definite article ('the pretense') or as an uncountable concept. Frequently followed by the preposition 'of'.
He made a pretense to be sickHe made a pretense of being sickThe noun is typically followed by 'of' plus a gerund or noun phrase, rather than an infinitive clause.