pretension

UK: /prɪˈtɛnʃ^ən/

US: /prɪˈtɛnʃən/

US: (n. pri ten′shən; v. prē ten′shən)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

pre•ten•sion¹ /prɪˈtɛnʃən/   n. 

1. the laying of a claim to something:
   [countable] all those pretensions to the throne.
2. Often, pretensions. [plural] a claim made to some quality, merit, dignity, or importance.
3. the act of claiming to be something one is not:
   [uncountable] full of pretension.
   [countable] Your pretensions don't fool me.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

pre•ten•sion¹  (pri ten′shən), n. 

1. the laying of a claim to something.
2. a claim or title to something.
3. Often, pretensions. a claim made, esp. indirectly or by implication, to some quality, merit, or the like:
   They laughed at my pretensions to superior judgment.
4. a claim to dignity, importance, or merit.
5. pretentiousness.
6. the act of pretending or alleging.
7. an allegation of doubtful veracity.
8. a pretext.

• Medieval Latin praetēnsiōn- (stem of praetēnsiō). See pretense, -ion
• 1590–1600

pre•ten•sion²  (prē ten′shən), v.t. 

1. Building (in prestressed-concrete construction) to apply tension to (reinforcing strands) before the concrete is poured. Cf. posttension (def. 1).
2. Building to make (a concrete member) with pretensioned reinforcement.

• pre- + tension 1935–40

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

pretension / prɪˈtɛnʃən/ noun

1. (often plural) a false or unsupportable claim, esp to merit, worth, or importance
2. a specious or unfounded allegation; pretext
3. the state or quality of being pretentious