pretense

1 ENTRIES FOUND:

pretense (US) noun

or British pretence /ˈpriːˌtɛns/ Brit /prɪˈtɛns/

plural pretenses

pretense (US)

noun

or British pretence /ˈpriːˌtɛns/ Brit /prɪˈtɛns/

plural pretenses

Learner's definition of PRETENSE

[count] : a false reason or explanation that is used to hide the real purpose of something : pretext借口；托词

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]他打电话给她，借口说问家庭作业的事情。
A reporter obtained documents from the company under false pretenses. [=by saying something that was not true, by pretending something, etc.]记者找借口从公司取得了文件。

: an act or appearance that looks real but is false假象

[singular]

Their indifference is only a pretense. [=they are only pretending to be indifferent]他们的漠不关心只是假象而已。
We tried to keep up the pretense that everything was fine.我们试图装作一切都好的样子。
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]她不喜欢他，甚至没法装出喜欢他的样子。

[noncount]

Their indifference is merely pretense.他们的漠不关心只是假象而已。
He abandoned/dropped all pretense at politeness. [=he stopped pretending or trying to be polite]他不再装成有礼貌的样子。

[count] formal : a claim of having a particular quality, ability, condition, etc.自称；自诩 — usually singular通常用单数

I make no pretense of being a history expert. [=I do not claim/pretend to be a history expert]我没有自诩为史学专家。