What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
pretention
Example
Her pretentious attitude made it difficult to have a conversation with her. [pretentious: adjective]
Example
He was full of pretention, always trying to impress others with his knowledge. [pretention: noun]
pretense
Example
She put on a pretense of happiness, but I could tell she was really upset. [pretense: noun]
Example
He pretended to be interested in her stories, but it was just a pretense to get closer to her. [pretense: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Pretense is more commonly used than pretention in everyday language. Pretense is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while pretention is less common and has a more specific meaning.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between pretention and pretense?
Both pretention and pretense are formal words that are typically used in more serious or academic contexts. However, pretense is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
