pretension
UK: prɪˈtenʃn̩ | US: prɪˈtenʃn̩
n. a claim or assertion of a claim to something
n. an aspiration or ambition that may be unrealistic
n. the use of affectation to impress others
Derived from Latin praetendere ("to stretch forth, claim"), combining prae- (before) and tendere (to stretch). The morpheme tens evolved from tendere, reflecting the idea of "stretching" a claim or ambition beyond reality. The suffix -ion nominalizes the action, forming a noun meaning "an act of asserting." Over time, pretension acquired connotations of exaggerated self-importance or artificiality.
His pretension to expertise in physics was quickly disproven.
The artist’s work avoided pretension, focusing on raw emotion.
She dismissed his pretensions to nobility as absurd.
The speech was full of pretension but lacked substance.
Their pretensions to equality were contradicted by their actions.