pretension Definition
- 1the act of pretending or alleging falsehood
- 2a claim or assertion of a claim to something
- 3an aspiration or intention that may not be realized
Using pretension: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "pretension" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
He had no pretensions to greatness.
Example
The company's pretensions to quality were exposed as fraudulent.
Example
Her pretensions to the throne were challenged by her rivals.
Example
The film's pretensions to artistry were met with mixed reviews.
pretension Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with pretension
drop one's pretensions
to stop pretending to be someone or something that one is not
Example
After years of trying to impress others, he finally dropped his pretensions and started being himself.
Example
Despite his humble background, he had pretensions to grandeur and acted as if he were royalty.
pretensions to knowledge
an unfounded claim to expertise or understanding
Example
His pretensions to knowledge were quickly exposed when he was unable to answer basic questions about the subject.
Origins of pretension
from Latin 'praetensio', meaning 'a stretching forth'
Summary: pretension in Brief
The term 'pretension' [pri-ten-shuhn] refers to the act of pretending or making false claims, as well as an aspiration or intention that may not be realized. It can be used to describe someone's exaggerated sense of self-importance, as in 'pretensions to grandeur,' or their unfounded claim to expertise, as in 'pretensions to knowledge.'
