pretence: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal. More common in British English. The American spelling 'pretense' is standard in US English.
Quick answer
What does “pretence” mean?
A false show or appearance.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A false show or appearance; an act or claim intended to deceive or give a false impression.
The behaviour or practice of pretending, often to maintain a social facade, hide true feelings, or claim a status not genuinely held. Can also refer to a fictional or imaginative scenario in play.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Primarily a spelling difference: BrE 'pretence', AmE 'pretense'. Slightly higher frequency in BrE.
Connotations
Similar in both varieties. The negative connotation of deception is dominant in adult contexts.
Frequency
The word is formal in both varieties. The concept is more commonly expressed with simpler terms like 'pretending', 'act', or 'facade' in everyday speech.
Grammar
How to Use “pretence” in a Sentence
under the pretence of [doing something]make a pretence of [noun/gerund]keep up the pretence that [clause]abandon/drop the pretenceVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “pretence” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- His cheerfulness was all pretence.
- They met under the pretence of discussing business.
- The children's game was a delightful pretence of being pirates.
American English
- She abandoned the pretense of friendship.
- He was arrested for obtaining money under false pretenses.
- There was no pretense of fairness in the process.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in formal reports about fraudulent activity: 'The contract was obtained under false pretences.'
Academic
Common in literary criticism, sociology, and psychology to discuss social roles, identity, and deception.
Everyday
Formal. Used to describe someone being insincere: 'She made no pretence of being pleased.'
Technical
In law, especially 'false pretences' as a specific criminal charge related to obtaining property by deception.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “pretence”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “pretence”
- Using 'pretence' as a verb (the verb is 'pretend').
- Misspelling as 'pretense' in British contexts.
- Confusing 'pretence' (deception) with 'pretext' (a false reason given).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A 'pretext' is a false reason given to justify an action. A 'pretence' is the broader act of pretending or the false appearance itself. A pretext can be part of a pretence.
Yes, it is more formal and less common in casual speech than 'pretending' or 'act'.
Use the structure 'under the pretence of' + gerund (e.g., 'under the pretence of helping') or 'make a pretence of' + gerund/noun (e.g., 'make a pretence of working').
The plural is 'pretences' (BrE) / 'pretenses' (AmE), most commonly heard in the fixed phrase 'false pretences/pretenses'.
A false show or appearance.
Pretence: in British English it is pronounced /prɪˈtɛns/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpriːˌtɛns/ or /prɪˈtɛns/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a pretence of ignorance”
- “under false pretences”
- “the pretence is over”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a PRETEND fence (preten-ce). You build a false fence to pretend your property is bigger than it is.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL INTERACTION IS A THEATRICAL PERFORMANCE ('keeping up the pretence'), TRUTH IS SOLID / FALSEHOOD IS INSUSBTANTIAL ('a thin pretence').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'pretence' used most neutrally or positively?