pre·tence/BrE 【英】, pretenseAmE 【美】 /prɪ`tɛns; prɪˈtens// n 1 [C usually singular 一般用单数，U] when you pretend that something is true 假装，作假: make a pretence of doing sth/make no pretence of doing sth Al made no pretence of hiding his surprise. 阿尔毫不掩饰自己的惊讶。 2 under false pretences if you do something under false pretences, you do it by dishonestly pretending that something is true 以欺诈手段: They were found guilty of obtaining money under false pretences. 他们欺骗钱财，被判有罪。