pretense
1 ENTRIES FOUND:
pretense
(US)
noun
plural
pretenses
pretense
(US)
noun
plural
pretenses
Britannica Dictionary definition of PRETENSE
1
[count]
:
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
[singular]
-
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]
[noncount]
-
Their indifference is merely pretense.
-
He abandoned/dropped all pretense at politeness. [=he stopped pretending or trying to be polite]
3
[count]
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]
