pretension

noun
UK: /prɪˈten.ʃən/
US: /prɪˈten.ʃən/

  1. A claim or belief that you are important or have done something important.

    1. His pretension of being a doctor is ridiculous, he just plays one on TV.
    2. The pretension in her voice made it clear she thought she was better than everyone else, a common pretension among the wealthy.

  2. Behavior or speech that is intended to attract attention and admiration, and that you do not really feel or believe.

    1. Her pretension to great musical knowledge was annoying everyone.
    2. The artist's pretension of deep understanding felt hollow and insincere, a transparent pretension meant to impress.

  3. An attempt to seem more important, intelligent, or cultured than you actually are.

    1. There was a pretension in his manner that many found off-putting.
    2. Her pretension of speaking fluent French was quickly exposed when a native speaker joined the conversation, a sad little pretension.

Synonyms

conceit show ostentation snobbery affectation

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "pretension" in English means: A claim or belief that you are important or have done something important., Behavior or speech that is intended to attract attention and admiration, and that you do not really feel or believe., An attempt to seem more important, intelligent, or cultured than you actually are..

The phonetic transcription of "pretension" is /prɪˈten.ʃən/ in British English and /prɪˈten.ʃən/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "pretension": conceit, show, ostentation, snobbery, affectation.

Example usage of "pretension": "His pretension of being a doctor is ridiculous, he just plays one on TV.". More examples on the page.