pretense

/ˈprē-ˌten(t)s/

Middle English, "assertion of a legal right, claim, reason, basis, feigning," borrowed from Anglo-French pretence, pretens "assertion of one's right," probably borrowed from Medieval Latin praetensē or praetensō "by way of assertion or allegation, allegedly, fictitiously," respectively adverbial derivative and masculine/neuter ablative singular of praetensus, praetentus "pretended, alleged," past participle of Latin praetendere "to hold or stretch out, put forward as a pretext"

noun

  1. a claim made or implied; especially : one not supported by fact

  2. mere ostentation : pretentiousness

  3. a pretentious act or assertion

idiom

  1. to stop acting or appearing in a way that looks real but is false : to stop pretending

He abandoned/dropped all pretense at politeness.

idiom

  1. to act or appear in a way that looks real but is false : to, pretend

She couldn't even make a pretense of liking him.