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Pretense: meaning, definitions and examples

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pretense

[ prɪˈtɛns ]

Noun

^{Context #1 | Noun}

in social situations

An attempt to make something that is not the case appear true. It is often used to hide the true purpose or feelings behind one's actions.

Synonyms

acting, faking, pretending.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
pretense	Used when someone is making a false claim or putting on a false show to deceive others. It often has a negative connotation. She did it under the pretense of helping him. His friendliness was just a pretense to get what he wanted.
pretending	Typically used when someone is making believe or imagining something. It can be neutral or slightly negative depending on the context. The children were pretending to be superheroes. He’s just pretending to be interested in the conversation.
faking	Often used to describe a person who is pretending to be something they are not, typically used in a more negative way. He was accused of faking his credentials. She was faking enthusiasm about the project.
acting	Commonly used in the context of performing in theater, film, or television. It can also refer to behavior that is not genuine but is less negative than 'faking' or 'pretending'. He has been acting in movies for over a decade. Stop acting like you don’t care.

Examples of usage

He kept up the pretense that everything was fine, even though he was struggling internally.
She maintained the pretense of being happy in front of her friends, but deep down she was feeling lonely.
Don't be fooled by his pretense of kindness, he has ulterior motives.
Their pretense of friendship was just a cover for their business partnership.
I could see through his pretense from the beginning.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

legal context

An attempt to create a false appearance or impression in order to deceive others, especially in a legal context.

Synonyms

cover-up, deception, fraud.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
pretense	Used when referring to an act that's intended to make someone believe something that is not true. Often not as severe as 'fraud' or 'deception'. She made a pretense of being interested in his story. Under the pretense of helping her, he got closer to her.
deception	Used in situations where there is an act of hiding the truth, often implying a more serious or deliberate attempt to mislead. His heart was broken when he discovered the deception. The magician's deception amazed the audience.
fraud	Refers to wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain. It is often used in legal or official contexts. She was arrested for committing bank fraud. The company was involved in a massive fraud scheme.
cover-up	Refers to an action or series of actions intended to hide the truth about something, usually something unethical or illegal. The politician was involved in a cover-up to hide his financial misdealings. The company attempted a cover-up of the safety issues in their products.

Examples of usage

The lawyer argued that the defendant's pretense of innocence was just a façade.
She saw through the pretense of the contract and knew it was not in her best interest.
The pretense of the witness was quickly dismantled under cross-examination.
The company's pretense of compliance with regulations was exposed during the investigation.
His pretense of ownership of the property was challenged in court.

Translations

Translations of the word "pretense" in other languages:

🇵🇹 pretensão

🇮🇳 दिखावा

🇩🇪 Vorwand

🇮🇩 pura-pura

🇺🇦 претензія

🇵🇱 pretensja

🇯🇵 見せかけ

🇫🇷 prétention

🇪🇸 pretensión

🇹🇷 iddia

🇰🇷 가장

🇸🇦 تظاهر

🇨🇿 předstírání

🇸🇰 predstieranie

🇨🇳 假装

🇸🇮 pretvarjanje

🇮🇸 tilgerð

🇰🇿 жалғандық

🇬🇪 მოხდენილობა

🇦🇿 iddia

🇲🇽 pretensión

Etymology

The word 'pretense' originated from the Latin word 'praetendere', which means 'to stretch forth, allege'. It entered the English language in the late 1300s with the meaning of 'a claim, an allegation'. Over time, the word evolved to represent the act of pretending or making false appearances. The concept of pretense has been prevalent in human interactions and legal contexts, where individuals or entities may use deceptive tactics to conceal their true intentions or actions.