pretense Definition

pretence
pretense
noun

1. The act of pretending.

Thesaurus: dishonesty, imitation, affectation, misrepresentation, falsification, falsehood, act, deceit, fabrication, trickery, double-dealing, simulation, prevarication, dissimulation, artifice.
2. Make-believe.
3. An act someone puts on deliberately to mislead.
4. A claim, especially an unjustified one.

Example: make no pretence to expert knowledge
5. Show, affectation or ostentation; pretentiousness.
6. A misleading declaration of intention.

Example: won their support under false pretences
Form: pretences (usually)
7. Show or semblance.

Example: abandoned all pretence of fair play

Etymology: 15c: from French pretensse, from Latin praetendere to pretend.