Trying too hard to seem important, impressive, or sophisticated in a way that is not genuine or believable.
From Latin 'praetendere' meaning to stretch forward or claim falsely (prae- meaning before + tendere meaning to stretch). The word literally described people reaching beyond their actual status.
Social psychology studies show pretentiousness increases when people feel insecure—someone bragging about expensive wines they don't understand is often compensating for deep doubts about their own worth, so pretension is basically insecurity turned inside-out.
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