pretense

noun
UK: /prɪˈtens/
US: /priˈtens/

  1. A false appearance or action intended to deceive.

    1. He has no pretense.
    2. She made a pretense of being happy, but I knew she was sad inside.

  2. An attempt to make something that is not the case appear true.

    1. He dropped the pretense.
    2. They kept up the pretense that everything was fine, despite their difficulties.

Synonyms

affectation deception sham charade

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "pretense" in English means: A false appearance or action intended to deceive., An attempt to make something that is not the case appear true..

The phonetic transcription of "pretense" is /prɪˈtens/ in British English and /priˈtens/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "pretense": affectation, deception, sham, charade.

Example usage of "pretense": "He has no pretense.". More examples on the page.