pretence
/prɪˈtɛns/
noun
- A false appearance or claim meant to deceive others; an act of pretending.
- His apology was just a pretence to avoid getting in trouble.
- She made a pretence of being busy when her boss walked by.
- Under the pretence of friendship, he was actually gathering information.
- A claim to have a particular quality, skill, or status, often exaggerated or false.
- The company dropped all pretence of environmental concern when profits fell.
- She is a genuine artist with no pretence of being famous.
- He has no pretence to being an expert on the subject.