A way of behaving intended to make people believe something that is not true; a claim to have a particular quality or skill, especially when not fully genuine.
Everyone at the dinner table could see that something was wrong between the couple. But they both kept up the pretence that everything was perfectly fine, smiling and chatting as if nothing had happened. Nobody dared to mention the tension in the room.
This meaning is about acting in a way that hides the truth and creates a false impression. Imagine a teenager who hates his new school but puts on a pretence of happiness every morning so his parents won’t worry — smiling, saying everything’s great, pretending he’s made friends. This is deliberately behaving in a way that doesn’t match reality. You might hear “she made a pretence of being interested in his story” or “they dropped all pretence and finally admitted the business was failing.” Or think about someone who gets money from an elderly person under false pretences — pretending to be a bank official, for example. The word suggests a deliberate act of hiding the truth behind a performance. ✏️ “Under false pretences” is an extremely common expression — it means getting something by deceiving people, like entering a building by pretending to be a delivery person.
Vivid example: After the argument, they both returned to the party and kept up the pretence that nothing had happened. They laughed and talked to guests like everything was normal. But their closest friends could see right through the act.
This meaning is about claiming — honestly or not — to have a certain ability, quality, or level of knowledge. Imagine a journalist who writes about complicated medical topics but openly admits she has no pretence to being a doctor — she’s saying clearly that she doesn’t claim to have that expertise. This is about the claim itself, whether someone makes it or denies it. You might read “I make no pretence to being an expert on the subject” or “he had no pretence of sophistication — he was just a simple, honest man.” Or think about a small restaurant that makes no pretence of being fancy — the food is great, but they don’t try to look like something they’re not. The word here is more formal and literary in tone. ✏️ This meaning usually appears in negative expressions — “no pretence to” or “no pretence of” — where someone is being modest or honest about their limitations.
Vivid example: The old café on the corner made no pretence of being trendy or modern. The chairs were mismatched and the menu hadn’t changed in years. But the coffee was the best in town and the regulars wouldn’t have it any other way.
Examples from the street:
“He made no pretence of being interested — he just sat there on his phone the whole time.” → He didn’t even try to act as though he cared — he simply sat looking at his mobile for the entire duration
“She kept up the pretence for months before anyone realised the truth.” → She maintained the act of pretending for a long time before somebody finally discovered what was really going on
“Let’s drop the pretence — we both know this isn’t working.” → Let’s stop pretending — we’re both fully aware this situation is failing
Pretence as pretending or putting on a false appearance — VERY COMMON:
– keep up / maintain a pretence → continue pretending over a period of time
– drop / abandon the pretence → stop pretending and face reality
– make no pretence of (doing something) → not even try to hide the truth
– under the pretence of (doing something) → using a false reason to hide your real intention
– a pretence of (something) → a false display of a feeling or quality
– the pretence that… → the act of behaving as if something is true when it isn’t
Pretence describing what kind of act it is:
– a false/elaborate/thin pretence → a deception that is dishonest, carefully constructed, or unconvincing
– a mere pretence → nothing more than an act — completely fake
– a ridiculous/absurd pretence → an act of pretending that is obviously unbelievable
– the slightest pretence → even the smallest effort to pretend
Pretence in formal or legal contexts:
– under/on false pretences → by lying or deceiving to get something
– obtain something under/on false pretences → get something by deliberately misleading someone
– gain entry under false pretences → get into a place by lying about who you are or why you’re there
Example Sentences
1. She kept up the pretence that everything was fine, even though she was struggling badly
→ She continued to act as if nothing was wrong, despite the fact that she was having a very difficult time.
2. He didn’t even make a pretence of listening — he just stared out of the window the entire time
→ He didn’t make the slightest effort to look as though he was paying attention — he simply gazed through the glass for the whole duration.
3. Can we just drop the pretence and admit that nobody actually wants to do this?
→ Can we stop acting as if we’re all keen and honestly acknowledge that not a single person genuinely wants to go ahead with this?
4. She got into the building under the pretence of being a journalist
→ She managed to enter the property by pretending to be a reporter, which wasn’t true.
5. The meeting was a mere pretence — the decision had already been made before anyone sat down
→ The gathering was nothing more than an act — the outcome had been decided before a single person took their seat.
6. He was arrested for obtaining money under false pretences from elderly residents
→ He was taken into police custody for getting cash by deliberately deceiving and misleading older people living in the area.
7. Their friendship was based on a pretence — neither of them actually liked the other
→ Their relationship was built on something fake — in reality, neither one of them genuinely enjoyed the other’s company.
8. It was a thin pretence that fooled nobody — everyone could see she was furious
→ It was an unconvincing act that didn’t trick a single person — it was obvious to everybody that she was extremely angry.
9. He smiled and put on a pretence of calm, but his hands were shaking under the table
→ He forced a smile and tried to appear relaxed, but his fingers were trembling beneath the desk where nobody could see.
10. They maintained the pretence of a happy marriage for years before finally separating
→ They continued acting as though their relationship was perfectly fine for a long time before eventually deciding to go their separate ways.
Learner Examples
1. When students drop the pretence that they already understand everything, real learning begins — admitting confusion is the first step to progress
→ When learners stop acting as if they’ve already grasped all the material, genuine development starts — acknowledging that something is unclear is the very beginning of moving forward.
2. Some students keep up a pretence of confidence during speaking activities, but a good teacher can see the anxiety underneath and create a safer space for them
→ Certain learners put on a false display of self-assurance during oral exercises, but an effective educator can recognise the nervousness behind the act and build an environment where they feel more comfortable.
✔ Native usage tips
– Pretence is British, pretense is American — the meaning and usage are identical, only the spelling differs. In British English it’s always pretence (like defence, licence). In American English it’s pretense (like defense, license). Use whichever matches your target variety
– Pretence is more formal than pretending — in everyday speech, people say “stop pretending” rather than “drop the pretence.” Pretence belongs more to written English, journalism, literature, and serious conversation. Using it well sounds sophisticated and literate
– Under false pretences is a legal phrase used in everyday English — originally a legal term for fraud, it’s now commonly used in general conversation. “She got the job under false pretences” means she lied on her application. It doesn’t always mean someone will be arrested — it’s used loosely for any deception
– Make no pretence of is a strong, direct phrase — saying someone “made no pretence of being interested” means they didn’t even bother to fake it. It’s a powerful way to describe someone who was openly uninterested, rude, or honest, depending on the context
– Pretence vs pretension — these are different words that learners often confuse. Pretence is the act of pretending something is true when it isn’t. Pretension (or pretentiousness) is trying to appear more important, cultured, or sophisticated than you really are. “He dropped the pretence” means he stopped lying. “He’s full of pretension” means he acts superior
– Pretence is uncountable in most uses — you say “a pretence of calm” or “the pretence that everything was fine,” but you don’t typically say “pretences” in the plural. The main exception is the fixed phrase “under false pretences,” which is always plural
✔ Similar expressions / words
– Façade → more visual and architectural-sounding than pretence; a façade is the front you show the world to hide what’s really behind it; “behind the façade of success” suggests a polished exterior covering problems, while “behind the pretence” focuses more on the deliberate act of deceiving
– Charade → more dramatic and dismissive than pretence; calling something a charade implies the deception is ridiculous and obvious; “this meeting is a charade” sounds angrier and more contemptuous than “this meeting is a pretence”
– Guise → focuses on the disguise or cover used to deceive; “under the guise of friendship” and “under the pretence of friendship” are very close, but guise emphasises the mask being worn while pretence emphasises the act of wearing it