1. people who claim to have a right or title to something, especially a throne or position of power
Usage: often used in historical contexts
2. people who falsely claim to be something they are not or to have qualities they do not possess

Examples

• Several pretenders to the throne emerged after the king’s death.
• The pretenders were quickly exposed as frauds by the investigators.
• History is full of pretenders who claimed royal bloodlines they didn’t have.
• She dismissed them as pretenders who lacked real expertise.
• The pretenders to the crown were exiled from the kingdom.
• Many pretenders tried to claim the inheritance, but none could prove their case.
• The committee rejected all the pretenders and chose the qualified candidate.