pretence

[pri-tens, pree-tens] /prɪˈtɛns, ˈpri tɛns/
noun, Chiefly British
1.
Examples from the web for pretence
  • Robin turned and leant on the bar and scanned the room with a pretence of indifference.
  • Voters encourage the pretence that the plagiarism does not matter.
  • But the pretence was maintained that the shuttle was a workaday craft.
  • Allowing such ersatz lending is a pretence by booksellers.
  • Your pretence of increased productivity has no basis in fact.
  • The private ratings agencies and public regulators both abandoned any pretence of impartiality and joined the party.
  • The statement is abject in humility, yet still without pretence to criticism.
  • These courtiers could play the hypocrites, and had no hopes of surprising the religious king but under some pretence of piety.
  • But friendship by its nature admits of no feigning, no pretence: as far as it goes it is both genuine and spontaneous.
  • He dignifies his calling with the pretence of gambling.
British Dictionary definitions for pretence

pretence

/prɪˈtɛns/
noun
1.
the act of pretending
2.
a false display; affectation
3.
a claim, esp a false one, to a right, title, or distinction
4.
make-believe or feigning
5.
a false claim or allegation; pretext
6.
a less common word for pretension (sense 3)