Pretentious
/prɪˈtenʃəs/
Definitions
Attempting to appear more important, intelligent, or cultured than is actually the case.
/prɪˈtenʃəs/
Making an outward show that is insincere or intended to impress.
He was criticized for his pretentious display of wealth.
💡 Simply: Have you ever met someone who tries to act like they know everything, even when they clearly don't? Or someone who uses fancy words just to sound smart? That's being pretentious. It's like they're putting on an act to make themselves seem better than they are.
👶 For kids: When someone acts like they're super important or smart, but they're just showing off.
More Examples
The restaurant's menu was full of pretentious dishes with fancy names but ordinary taste.
Her pretentious behavior at the party alienated many guests.
How It's Used
"The novel satirized the pretentious art scene in the city."
"The author's writing style was criticized as pretentious, filled with overly complex language."
From Late Latin *praetentiōsus*, from *praetendere* ('to stretch forth, allege, pretend'), from *prae-* ('before') + *tendere* ('to stretch'). The word originally implied making claims to something, and evolved to suggest insincere claims to importance, knowledge, or skill.
The word *pretentious* has a relatively long history, first appearing in the English language around the late 17th century. Its usage has consistently revolved around the idea of artificiality or making claims to something that is not genuinely possessed.
Memory tip
Think of someone 'pretending' to be something they're not – acting and showing off. Pretending to be a ten (pretentious) when they're really a one.
Word Origin
"To claim, allege; to stretch forth or extend."