pretence

[ pri-tens, pree-tens ]

/ prɪˈtɛns, ˈpri tɛns /

noun Chiefly British.

pretense.

Words nearby pretence

preta, pretarsal, pretarsus, pretax, preteen, pretence, pretend, pretended, pretender, pretense, pretension

Definition for pretence (2 of 2)

pretense

[ pri-tens, pree-tens ]

/ prɪˈtɛns, ˈpri tɛns /

noun

pretending or feigning; make-believe: My sleepiness was all pretense.

a false show of something: a pretense of friendship.

a piece of make-believe.

the act of pretending or alleging falsely.

a false allegation or justification: He excused himself from the lunch on a pretense of urgent business.

insincere or false profession: His pious words were mere pretense.

the putting forth of an unwarranted claim.

the claim itself.

any allegation or claim: to obtain money under false pretenses.

pretension (usually followed by to): destitute of any pretense to wit.

pretentiousness.

Also especially British, pre·tence.

Origin of pretense

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Anglo-French, from unattested Medieval Latin praetēnsa, noun use of feminine of praetēnsus, past participle (replacing Latin praetentus) of praetendere “to put forward, stretch forth, pretend”; see origin at pretend

SYNONYMS FOR pretense

1 shamming.

2 semblance.

3 mask, veil.

OTHER WORDS FROM pretense

pre·tense·ful, adjective pre·tense·less, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH pretense

pretense pretext

Example sentences from the Web for pretence

Although Vanessa comforted herself with the pretence that I had two fathers, in reality—emotional reality, that is—I had none.

House of Cads: Growing Up Amid the Weirdness of Bloomsbury |Jessica Ferri |April 10, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Kelly, however, goes a step further and abandons any pretence of subtlety.

R. Kelly’s Craziest Lyrics From ‘Black Panties,’ Analyzed |Chancellor Agard |December 3, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
At his most devastating, Ellison abandons any pretence of literary realism.

American Nightmare: Ralph Ellison’s ‘Invisible Man’ at 60 |Nathaniel Rich |June 28, 2012 |DAILY BEAST
The latest addition to the most-wanted list, Hafeez Saeed, the head of Lashkar-e-Taiba, does not even make any pretence of hiding.

Obama’s Deal With Afghanistan Underscores Its Crucial Role in the War on Terror |Bruce Riedel |May 3, 2012 |DAILY BEAST

We can't disguise hostility towards any religion behind the pretence of liberalism.

Obama's Egypt Address |The Daily Beast Video |June 4, 2009 |DAILY BEAST
This incident served Henry as a pretence for his severity towards that prince.

The History of England in Three Volumes, Vol.I., Part C. |David Hume
We will leave these poor devils, in pity, to trade with others; but they must not delay us to make a pretence of earning money.

No Thoroughfare |Charles Dickens and Wilkie Collins
Go boldly up to him, and invent some pretence to address him, or wait in this angle of deep shade, and see what would happen next?

In the Days of My Youth |Amelia Ann Blandford Edwards
And I bowed again and walked past her like she was a stage character, which she was, being a pretence and nothing else.

Mary Cary |Kate Langley Bosher
This I could not understand, and therefore make no pretence to remember it; for my brain is not mathematical.

Dariel |R. D. Blackmore

British Dictionary definitions for pretence

pretence

US pretense

/ (prɪˈtɛns) /

noun

the act of pretending

a false display; affectation

a claim, esp a false one, to a right, title, or distinction

make-believe or feigning

a false claim or allegation; pretext

a less common word for pretension (def. 3)

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

pretence

noun Chiefly British.

Words nearby pretence

Definition for pretence (2 of 2)

noun

Origin of pretense

SYNONYMS FOR pretense

OTHER WORDS FROM pretense

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH pretense

Example sentences from the Web for pretence

British Dictionary definitions for pretence

US pretense

noun