Pretense
Pronunciation: /priːˈtɛns/
Pretense (noun)
- an act of making something seem true when it is not.
- a reason given that is not the real reason.
- a claim to have a certain skill or quality, often not true.
Examples
- She maintained a pretense of happiness despite her worries.
- Under the pretense of friendship, he gathered information.
Common collocations: maintain a pretense, under the pretense, on the pretense, under the pretense, pretense to expertise