pretension

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'pretension' is a valid and widely used word in written English.
You can use it to refer to the attitude or behavior of a person who pretends to be more important, knowledgeable, or sophisticated than he or she actually is. For example: "The pretensions of the snobbish lawyer made him unpopular among his colleagues."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Independent

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I went to Marseille, however, because it prides itself on its reputation in France as an unforgivingly working-class city with no time for pretension, the opposite of Parisian snobbery and elitism.

The Guardian

Fearless, he pricked pretension and saw through humbug.

The Guardian

You'll tell me my village – I live in north London – isn't representative of anything, that we are a law unto ourselves, an island of pretension and wealth.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

What, in their eyes, needed defending against vilification and attack were the integrity and essential neutrality of science, which knows neither national boundaries nor political labels.If the science wars amounted to no more than a wicked academic hoax and the exposure of mathematically ignorant pretension, they would be of little interest.

The Economist

IT IS rare in any novel that characters debate the fate of mankind without an ounce of pretension.

The Economist

Thanks partly to the puritan tradition, partly to a national suspicion of pretension, it has always been more at home with the prosaic and the dowdy.For the past 40 years, it has been TV-influenced in terms of theme and content, and West End-influenced in terms of performance.

The Economist

Jorge Bergoglio, the archbishop of Buenos Aires, played into their hands by calling the proposal "a destructive pretension against the plan of God".

The Economist

But on the whole the lachrymose representative from Ohio is a steady, straight-talking, country club sort of Republican, chummy with lobbyists, free of pretension, who worked happily enough with Democrats on George Bush's No Child Left Behind Act.Mr Gingrich, a walking, talking, and sometimes dangerously undisciplined ideological fireworks display, was a different species of politician altogether.

The Economist

A favourite spot for locals, this small restaurant offers perfectly cooked pigeon (when available) to those tired of Parisian pretension.

The Economist

A man of great kindness, and without a hint of vanity or pretension, he was far from being either a heartless ideologue or a primitive anti-communist (though he never visited either Russia or Vietnam to put his opinions to the test).

The Economist

The job of the opposition is not to salute the government but to pounce on its every mistake, prick its every pretension, belittle its every success and, above all, to offer an alternative.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Employ "pretension" to add a layer of subtle criticism when describing behaviors or attitudes that seem overly affected or artificial.

Common error

Avoid substituting "pretension" for "intention". "Pretension" implies a false claim or affectation, while "intention" refers to a genuine aim or purpose.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "pretension" is as a noun. It typically refers to a claim or aspiration to a particular status or quality, often implying that the claim is not entirely justified. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Encyclopedias

16%

Independent

16%

Less common in

Science

6%

Formal & Business

3%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "pretension" functions as a noun denoting an often-unjustified claim or aspiration to a particular status or quality. Ludwig AI confirms that this word is valid and widely used in written English. It is commonly found in news and media, encyclopedias, and independent publications, suggesting a neutral to formal register. While it can be confused with "intention", it's crucial to remember that "pretension" carries a negative connotation, implying a lack of authenticity. Employing the word correctly allows for nuanced critiques of affectation and inflated self-importance. Related terms include "affectation", "conceit", and "airs and graces", each offering slightly different shades of meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

affectation

Emphasizes artificiality and a desire to impress others.

airs

Suggests an attitude of superiority or haughtiness.

affectedness

Highlights the quality of being artificial and designed to impress.

pompousness

Indicates self-importance and exaggerated dignity.

conceit

Implies an exaggerated belief in one's own abilities or worth.

airs and graces

Indicates affected manners and a sense of superiority.

sanctimoniousness

Refers to a display of exaggerated or affected piety.

presumption

Suggests behaving with unwarranted confidence or arrogance.

showiness

Focuses on ostentatious display and a desire to attract attention.

ostentation

Highlights excessive display and extravagance.

FAQs

How to use "pretension" in a sentence?

"Pretension" typically refers to an attempt to appear more important or knowledgeable than one is. For example: "His speech was filled with intellectual pretension."

What's the difference between "pretension" and "pretense"?

While often used interchangeably, "pretension" generally refers to a claim to importance or merit, whereas "pretense" is a more general term for pretending or feigning.

What can I say instead of "pretension"?

You can use alternatives like "affectation", "conceit", or "airs and graces" depending on the context.

Is "pretension" a positive or negative trait?

"Pretension" is generally considered a negative trait, as it implies a lack of authenticity and a desire to deceive or impress others.