What does PRETENSE mean?

Definitions for PRETENSE
prɪˈtɛns, ˈpri tɛnspre·tense

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word PRETENSE.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. pretense, pretence, pretending, simulation, feigningnoun

    the act of giving a false appearance

    "his conformity was only pretending"

  2. pretense, pretence, feigning, dissemblingnoun

    pretending with intention to deceive

  3. pretense, pretence, make-believenoun

    imaginative intellectual play

  4. pretension, pretense, pretencenoun

    a false or unsupportable quality

  5. guise, pretense, pretence, pretextnoun

    an artful or simulated semblance

    "under the guise of friendship he betrayed them"

Wiktionary

  1. pretensenoun

    A false or hypocritical profession, as, under pretense of friendliness.

  2. pretensenoun

    Intention or purpose not real but professed.

    without pretense of accuracy

  3. pretensenoun

    An unsupported claim made or implied.

  4. pretensenoun

    An insincere attempt to reach a specific condition or quality.

  5. Etymology: From pretensse, from prætensus, past participle of prætendere, from præ- + tendere; see pretend.

ChatGPT

  1. pretense

    Pretense is an attempt to make something appear true or real when it is not, often to deceive or impress others. It can refer to a false display of feelings, attitudes, or intentions or an insincere or false claim. It may also refer to an act of pretending or make-believe.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Pretensenoun

    alt. of Pretence

Wikidata

  1. Pretense

    The Tollan put Skaara and Klorel on trial to determine who will control the host body.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Pretense

    Same as Pretence.

Suggested Resources

  1. Pretense

    Pretence vs. Pretense -- In this Grammar.com article you will learn the differences between the words Pretence and Pretense.

Matched Categories

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

Anagrams for PRETENSE »

  1. Petersen

  2. preteens

  3. pre-teens

  4. terpenes

How to pronounce PRETENSE?

How to say PRETENSE in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of PRETENSE in Chaldean Numerology is: 1

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of PRETENSE in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3

Examples of PRETENSE in a Sentence

  1. Senator Richard Blumenthal:

    A public health crisis cannot be a pretense to pave over our privacy laws or legitimize tech companies' intrusive data collection about American's personal lives.

  2. Thomas Jefferson:

    I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.

  3. William E. Borah:

    Without an unfettered press, without liberty of speech, all of the outward forms and structures of free institutions are a sham, a pretense -- the sheerest mockery. If the press is not free; if speech is not independent and untrammeled; if the mind is shackled or made impotent through fear, it makes no difference under what form of government you live, you are a subject and not a citizen.

  4. Dejan Stojanovic:

    Pretense cannot sustain blind power.

  5. Maya Angelou:

    A bizarre sensation pervades a relationship of pretense. No truth seems true. A simple morning's greeting and response appear loaded with innuendo and fraught with implications. Each nicety becomes more sterile and each withdrawal more permanent.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

PRETENSE#10000#48205#100000

Translations for PRETENSE

From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary

Get even more translations for PRETENSE »

Translation

Find a translation for the PRETENSE definition in other languages:

Select another language:

  • - Select -
  • 简体中文 (Chinese - Simplified)
  • 繁體中文 (Chinese - Traditional)
  • Español (Spanish)
  • Esperanto (Esperanto)
  • 日本語 (Japanese)
  • Português (Portuguese)
  • Deutsch (German)
  • العربية (Arabic)
  • Français (French)
  • Русский (Russian)
  • ಕನ್ನಡ (Kannada)
  • 한국어 (Korean)
  • עברית (Hebrew)
  • Gaeilge (Irish)
  • Українська (Ukrainian)
  • اردو (Urdu)
  • Magyar (Hungarian)
  • मानक हिन्दी (Hindi)
  • Indonesia (Indonesian)
  • Italiano (Italian)
  • தமிழ் (Tamil)
  • Türkçe (Turkish)
  • తెలుగు (Telugu)
  • ภาษาไทย (Thai)
  • Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
  • Čeština (Czech)
  • Polski (Polish)
  • Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian)
  • Românește (Romanian)
  • Nederlands (Dutch)
  • Ελληνικά (Greek)
  • Latinum (Latin)
  • Svenska (Swedish)
  • Dansk (Danish)
  • Suomi (Finnish)
  • فارسی (Persian)
  • ייִדיש (Yiddish)
  • հայերեն (Armenian)
  • Norsk (Norwegian)
  • English (English)

Word of the Day

Would you like us to send you a FREE new word definition delivered to your inbox daily?

Please enter your email address:


Citation

Use the citation below to add this definition to your bibliography:

Style:MLAChicagoAPA

"PRETENSE." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 15 Nov. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/PRETENSE>.

Discuss these PRETENSE definitions with the community:

0 Comments

    Are we missing a good definition for PRETENSE? Don't keep it to yourself...

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Chrome

    Get instant definitions for any word that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Firefox

    Get instant definitions for any word that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Quiz

    Are you a words master?

    »
    a widespread outbreak of an infectious disease
    A contagious
    B arbitrary
    C epidemic
    D occlusive

    Nearby & related entries:

    Alternative searches for PRETENSE: