1. a claim to have a particular quality, skill, or right, especially when this claim is questionable or false
2. the quality of trying to appear more important, successful, or sophisticated than one actually is

Examples

• His pretension to being an expert was quickly exposed when he couldn’t answer basic questions.
• The restaurant’s pretension was evident in its overpriced menu and snobbish waitstaff.
• She made no pretension of understanding advanced mathematics.
• The novel was criticized for its literary pretensions and flowery language.
• Without any pretension to fame, he quietly continued his charitable work.
• The gallery’s pretension attracted wealthy patrons but alienated casual visitors.