What does pretence mean?

[White Wolf]

What does pretence mean?
Definitions of pretence. noun. the act of giving a false appearance. synonyms: feigning, pretending, pretense, simulation.


pre·tense
/prēˈten(t)s,ˈprēˌten(t)s/
noun
noun: pretence
1.
an attempt to make something that is not the case appear true.
"his anger is masked by a pretense that all is well"
Similar:
make-believe
act
putting on an act
acting
dissembling
shamming
sham
faking
feigning
simulation
falsification
dissimulation
invention
imagination
self-deception
playacting
posturing
posture
posing
pose
cant
attitudinizing
deception
deceit
deceitfulness
fraud
hoax
fraudulence
fabrication
duplicity
artifice
subterfuge
treachery
trickery
dishonesty
hypocrisy
falsity
lying
mendacity
lack of veracity
false colours
kidology
simulacrum
pretext
false excuse
guise
ruse
wile
lie
falsehood
Opposite:
reality
honesty
2.
a claim, especially a false or ambitious one.
"he was quick to disclaim any pretense to superiority"

pretense
noun
pre·​tense ˈprē-ˌten(t)s pri-ˈten(t)s
variants or pretence
Synonyms of pretense
1
: a claim made or implied
especially : one not supported by fact
2
a
: mere ostentation : pretentiousness
… confuse dignity with pomposity and pretense.
—Bennett Cerf
b
: a pretentious act or assertion
3
: an inadequate or insincere attempt to attain a certain condition or quality
4
: professed rather than real intention or purpose : pretext
was there under false pretenses
5
: make-believe, fiction
6
: false show : simulation


https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pretense