pre·tense (US) or Brit pre·tence 
/ˈpri:ˌtɛns, Brit prɪˈtɛns/ noun
plural pre·tens·es /ˈpri:ˌtɛns, Brit prɪˈtɛns/ noun 1 [count] : a false reason or explanation that is used to hide the real purpose of something : pretext
▪ He called her under/on the pretense of asking about the homework assignment. [=asking about the homework assignment was not the real reason he called her] ▪ A reporter obtained documents from the company under false pretenses. [=by saying something that was not true, by pretending something, etc.] 2 : an act or appearance that looks real but is false [singular] ▪ Their indifference is only a pretense. [=they are only pretending to be indifferent] ▪ We tried to keep up the pretense that everything was fine. ▪ She couldn't even make a pretense of liking him. [=she disliked him so much that she was unable to pretend that she liked him] [noncount] ▪ Their indifference is merely pretense. ▪ He abandoned/dropped all pretense at politeness. [=he stopped pretending or trying to be polite] 3 [count] formal : a claim of having a particular quality, ability, condition, etc. — usually singular ▪ I make no pretense of being a history expert. [=I do not claim/pretend to be a history expert]
▪ He called her under/on the pretense of asking about the homework assignment. [=asking about the homework assignment was not the real reason he called her] ▪ A reporter obtained documents from the company under false pretenses. [=by saying something that was not true, by pretending something, etc.]
