What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
pretence
Example
She made a pretence of being interested in his story. [pretence: noun]
Example
He pretended to be sick as a pretence to skip school. [pretence: noun]
disguise
Example
He disguised himself as a delivery man to sneak into the building. [disguised: verb]
Example
She wore a disguise to the costume party and nobody recognized her. [disguise: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Disguise is more commonly used than pretence in everyday language. Disguise is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while pretence is less common and often associated with negative connotations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between pretence and disguise?
Both pretence and disguise can be used in formal and informal contexts, but pretence may be perceived as more informal due to its association with acting or pretending.
