pretentious Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective making claim to or creating an appearance of (often undeserved) importance or distinction
    • a pretentious country house
    • a pretentious fraud
    • a pretentious scholarly edition
  2. adjective intended to attract notice and impress others
    ostentatious.
    • an ostentatious sable coat
  3. adjective satellite (of a display) tawdry or vulgar
    ostentatious.

WordNet

Pre*ten"tious adjective
Etymology
Cf. F. prétentieux. See Pretend.
Definitions
  1. Full of pretension; disposed to lay claim to more than is one's; presuming; assuming. -- Pre*ten"tious*ly, adv. -- Pre*ten"tious*ness, n.

Webster 1913