Pretense: meaning, definitions and examples
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pretense
[ prɪˈtɛns ]
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
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.
legal context
An attempt to create a false appearance or impression in order to deceive others, especially in a legal context.
Synonyms
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
Word origin
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.