<p><strong>Noun</strong></p><ul><li>pretending or feigning; make-believe: My sleepiness was all pretense</li><li>a false show of something: a pretense of friendship</li><li>a piece of make-believe</li><li>the act of pretending or alleging falsely</li><li>a false allegation or justification: He excused himself from the lunch on a pretense of urgent business</li><li>insincere or false profession: His pious words were mere pretense</li><li>the putting forth of an unwarranted claim</li><li>the claim itself</li><li>any allegation or claim: to obtain money under false pretenses</li><li>pretension (usually followed by to): destitute of any pretense to wit</li><li>pretentiousness</li></ul>