The act of pretending, or laying claim; the act of asserting right or title.

A claim made, whether true or false; a right alleged or assumed; a holding out the appearance of possessing a certain character; as, pretensions to scholarship.

claim, cause of action, claim for relief

a false or unsupportable quality

the advancing of a claim; "his pretension to the crown"; "the town still puts forward pretensions as a famous resort"

the quality of being pretentious (creating a false appearance of great importance or worth)