Definitions for pretentious
prɪˈtɛn ʃəspre·ten·tious

Princeton's WordNet(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. pretentious(adj)

   making claim to or creating an appearance of (often undeserved) importance or distinction

   "a pretentious country house"; "a pretentious fraud"; "a pretentious scholarly edition"

2. ostentatious, pretentious(adj)

   intended to attract notice and impress others

   "an ostentatious sable coat"

3. ostentatious, pretentious(adj)

   (of a display) tawdry or vulgar

Wiktionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. pretentious(Adjective)

   Marked by an unwarranted claim to importance or distinction.

   Their song titles are pretentious in the context of their basic lyrics.

   Etymology: From prétentieux, from prétention, from praetensus, past participle of praetendo.

2. pretentious(Adjective)

   Ostentatious; intended to impress others.

   Her dress was obviously more pretentious than comfortable.

   Etymology: From prétentieux, from prétention, from praetensus, past participle of praetendo.

Webster Dictionary(3.50 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Pretentious(adj)

   full of pretension; disposed to lay claim to more than is one's; presuming; assuming

   Etymology: [Cf. F. prtentieux. See Pretend.]

How to pronounce pretentious?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

How to say pretentious in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of pretentious in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of pretentious in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9

Examples of pretentious in a Sentence

1. Despair.com:

   The downside to being better than everyone is that people seem to think you are pretentious.

2. San Francisco:

   A pretentious way of saying 'selected,'.

3. This Is Spinal Tap:

   Marty This pretentious ponderous collection of religious rock psalms is enough to prompt the question, What day did the Lord create Spinal Tap, and couldn't he have rested on that day too'

4. Sotigui Kouyaté:

   Let’s be modest. Africa is vast, and it would be pretentious to speak in its name. I’m fighting the battle with words because I’m a storyteller, a griot. Rightly or wrongly, they call us masters of the spoken word. Our duty is to encourage the West to appreciate Africa more. It’s also true that many Africans don’t really know their own continent. And if you forget your culture, you lose sight of yourself. It is said that “the day you no longer know where you’re going, just remember where you came from.” Our strength lies in our culture. Everything I do as a storyteller, a griot, stems from this rooting and openness.

5. Stephanie Clifford:

   I think it’s a coincidence, i’m not pretentious enough to think she named her after me.

Images & Illustrations of pretentious

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