Pretender

Pronunciation: /prɪˈtɛndər/

Definitions of pretender

noun a person who pretends to be someone else, especially in order to deceive others

Example Sentences

A1 She is a pretender to the throne.

A2 The pretender claimed to be a long-lost relative.

B1 The pretender tried to deceive the royal family.

B2 The pretender's true identity was finally revealed.

C1 The pretender's elaborate scheme was uncovered by investigators.

C2 The pretender's audacious plan to seize power failed miserably.

Examples of pretender in a Sentence

formal The pretender to the throne was quickly exposed as an impostor.

informal That guy is such a pretender, always acting like he knows everything.

slang She's just a pretender, trying to fit in with the cool crowd.

figurative The dark clouds were just pretenders, the storm never actually arrived.

Grammatical Forms of pretender

• past tense: pretended
• plural: pretenders
• comparative: more pretending
• superlative: most pretending
• present tense: pretend
• future tense: will pretend
• perfect tense: have pretended
• continuous tense: is pretending
• singular: pretender
• positive degree: pretender
• infinitive: to pretend
• gerund: pretending
• participle: pretending

Origin and Evolution of pretender

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'pretender' originated from the Latin word 'praetendere' meaning 'to stretch forth, allege'.

Evolution of the word: Originally used in a neutral sense to refer to someone who lays claim to a title or position, the word 'pretender' has evolved to carry a negative connotation implying deceit or illegitimacy.