n.
Pronunciation: pri- ' ten(t)-sh ə n
Function: noun
Date: 15th century
1 : an allegation of doubtful value : PRETEXT
2 : a claim or an effort to establish a claim
3 : a claim or right to attention or honor because of merit
4 : an aspiration or intention that may or may not reach fulfillment <has serious literary pretension s >
5 : VANITY , PRETENTIOUSNESS
synonyms see AMBITION
– pre · ten · sion · less \ -l ə s \ adjective