Pretense | Mean of pretense in English Dictionary

/ˈpriːˌtɛns/

• Noun
• a false reason or explanation that is used to hide the real purpose of something
1. He called her under/on the pretense of asking about the homework assignment. [=asking about the homework assignment was not the real reason he called her]
2. A reporter obtained documents from the company under false pretenses. [=by saying something that was not true, by pretending something, etc.]
• an act or appearance that looks real but is false
1. Their indifference is only a pretense. [=they are only pretending to be indifferent]
2. We tried to keep up the pretense that everything was fine.
3. She couldn't even make a pretense of liking him. [=she disliked him so much that she was unable to pretend that she liked him]
4. Their indifference is merely pretense.
5. He abandoned/dropped all pretense at politeness. [=he stopped pretending or trying to be polite]
• a claim of having a particular quality, ability, condition, etc.
1. I make no pretense of being a history expert. [=I do not claim/pretend to be a history expert]