Pretension

B2 16+

Pronunciation: /prɪˈtɛnʃən/

Definitions of pretension

noun the quality of having or showing a claim to something

Example Sentences

A1 She had no pretension of being a skilled chef.

A2 His pretension to wealth was quickly debunked when his old car broke down.

B1 The artist's pretension to fame was evident in her extravagant lifestyle.

B2 The politician's pretension of honesty was shattered when evidence of corruption surfaced.

C1 Her pretension to intellectual superiority was off-putting to those around her.

C2 The writer's pretension to literary greatness was widely recognized and celebrated.

Examples of pretension in a Sentence

formal His pretension to be an expert in the field was quickly debunked by his lack of knowledge.

informal She always puts on airs of pretension when she's around new people.

slang Stop fronting with all that pretension, we know you're not as cool as you act.

figurative The facade of pretension she wore shielded her true emotions from the world.

Grammatical Forms of pretension

past tense

pretended

plural

pretensions

comparative

more pretentious

superlative

most pretentious

present tense

pretends

future tense

will pretend

perfect tense

have pretended

continuous tense

is pretending

singular

pretension

positive degree

pretentious

infinitive

to pretend

gerund

pretending

participle

pretended

Origin and Evolution of pretension

First Known Use: 1250 year
Language of Origin: Latin
Story behind the word: The word 'pretension' originated from the Latin word 'praetendere', which means 'to stretch forth' or 'to claim'.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'pretension' has evolved to also include the connotation of someone making exaggerated claims or displaying a false sense of importance.