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pretension

[/prɪˈtenʃən/]
nounfemininepl: pretensions
pretensão
1. A claim or assertion that may be disputed or false
He made pretensions to being an expert in art history.
Ele fazia pretensões de ser um especialista em história da arte.
2. Behavior or attitude that is intended to impress others but is not genuine; affectation
She spoke with pretension, using words she didn't fully understand.
Ela falava com pretensão, usando palavras que não entendia completamente.
3. An aspiration or ambition to achieve something
The startup has pretensions of becoming a major tech company.
A startup tem pretensões de se tornar uma grande empresa de tecnologia.
NYC Slang
flexing; fronting
Synonyms
affectationclaimaspirationambitionpretense
Antonyms
humilitymodestygenuinenessauthenticity

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
pretensão
Standard usage throughout Brazil
São Paulo
pretensão
Common in formal and informal speech
Portugal
pretensão
Standard European Portuguese usage

Related Idioms & Phrases

without pretension - sem pretensão (in a natural, unpretentious manner)
have pretensions to something - ter pretensões de algo (aspire to achieve something)
grand pretensions - grandes pretensões (ambitious claims or aspirations)
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