The pretentious definition is trying to impress people by acting more important, intelligent, cultured or stylish than you really are. A friend who drops French phrases into every sentence after one week in Paris, or a café that calls a plain cheese sandwich an "artisanal dairy composition", might be called pretentious.
The key idea is a gap between the image and the reality. Being truly skilled or refined is not pretentious. Making a show of it, or claiming more than you have, is. The word is almost always a criticism, and it can describe people, writing, art, buildings, menus and even names.
Entry at a glance
Meaning
Showing off qualities or importance you do not really havePart of speech
AdjectivePronunciation
pree-TEN-shuhs; also pri-TEN-shuhsWord forms
pretentiously (adverb), pretentiousness (noun), pretension (noun)Origin
French prétentieux, from prétention, a claim; English from the 1830sOpposite
unpretentious, modest, down-to-earth, genuineRegister
Neutral; a common criticism in reviews and chat
What does pretentious mean?
Pretentious describes an attempt to seem superior that does not quite convince. It has two common uses:
- About people: acting grand, showing off taste or knowledge, or using fancy words to look clever. "He's so pretentious about wine, but he can't tell red from rosé."
- About things: writing, art, films, buildings or products that aim to look deep, artistic or expensive but feel forced. "The novel's ending was pretentious and confusing."
A compact definition of pretentious, for when you need to define pretentious briefly: making claims, often unspoken, to status or depth that the substance does not support.
Origin: the claim behind the word
English took pretentious from French prétentieux in the 1830s. Behind it stands prétention, a claim, which goes back to Latin praetendere, to stretch out in front, and so to put forward as an excuse or claim. The same Latin verb gave English pretend. So a pretentious person is, at root, someone putting forward a claim, and the word suggests the claim is bigger than the truth. Its opposite, unpretentious, followed in the 1850s.
Pretentious definition in real sentences
- The restaurant's menu was so pretentious that nobody could tell what the dishes actually were.
- I worried my essay sounded pretentious, so I cut half the long words.
- She wears glasses with clear lenses because she thinks they look intellectual; her brother calls it pretentious.
- For all its grand speeches, the film felt pretentious rather than profound.
- Their wedding was simple and unpretentious, and guests loved it.
Pretentious compared with similar words
| Word | Focus |
|---|---|
| Pretentious | Claiming or performing more class, depth or talent than is real |
| Snobbish | Looking down on people seen as lower in taste or class |
| Arrogant | Openly overrating yourself; may be genuinely skilled |
| Condescending | Talking down to others |
| Pompous | Self-important and solemn, especially in speech |
| Affected | Artificial in manner, such as a fake accent |
| Pedantic | Showing off knowledge of small rules or details |
A person can be sophisticated without being pretentious. Sophistication is real refinement; pretentiousness is the pose of it.
Using it fairly
Since calling something pretentious is a put-down, it says something about the speaker too. Some people use "pretentious" to dismiss any art, food or vocabulary they find unfamiliar. Before using it, ask whether the person or work is really claiming more than it delivers, or just doing something you do not like. Specific criticism ("the long words hide a simple point") is often more useful than the label alone.
Grammar is easy: pretentious goes before nouns (a pretentious title) or after verbs like sound, seem and look. The noun is pretentiousness. Pretension means a claim or aspiration: "He has no pretensions to being an expert."
Spelling and pronunciation tips
Spell it with -tious, like ambitious: pre-ten-tious, not "pretencious" or "pretentous". The t before -ious is said like sh. Its reverse, unpretentious, is a warm compliment for a modest home, a relaxed restaurant or a humble person. Related ideas such as vanity and being authentic appear across the people and feelings words on this site.
Frequently asked questions
Is pretentious a bad word?
It is not rude, but it is a criticism. Calling someone pretentious says they are faking or exaggerating their class, taste or intelligence.
What is the opposite of pretentious?
Unpretentious, modest, down-to-earth or genuine. These describe people or places that are comfortable being what they are.
How do you pronounce pretentious?
Say pree-TEN-shuhs, with stress on TEN. Many speakers use a shorter first vowel, pri-TEN-shuhs. Both are fine.
Can a thing be pretentious?
Yes. Books, films, menus, buildings, brand names and even email signatures can be pretentious if they try too hard to look deep, artistic or exclusive.
What is the difference between pretentious and snobby?
A snob looks down on others. A pretentious person puts on airs to look better. They often go together, but you can be pretentious without sneering at anyone.
Is using big words pretentious?
Not by itself. Big words are fine when they are the clearest choice. They become pretentious when used mainly to impress, especially where a simple word would do the job better.