Word of the day · 26 June 2026
pretentious
/prɪˈtɛnʃəs/
adjective
Trying to appear more important, cultured or talented than is warranted.
In a sentence
- The menu’s pretentious French labels hid ordinary pasta.
- Reviewers called the film pretentious rather than profound.
- He dropped the pretentious accent once the interview ended.
In an image
Origin
From French prétentieux, from prétention (claim, pretension), ultimately from Latin praetendere (to stretch forth, claim).
History
Pretentious rose with modern critiques of taste and class display. It targets menus, jackets, jargon and art that seem to demand admiration without earning it. The charge is not ambition itself but inflated claim. Used fairly, the word asks whether the style matches the content.
Nearby words
ostentatious · affected · showy
Show that outruns substance.