pretentious

pretentious (prɪˈtɛnʃəs)

—*adj*
1.	making claim to distinction or importance, esp undeservedly
2.	having or creating a deceptive outer appearance of great worth; ostentatious

pre'tentiously

—*adv*

pre'tentiousness

—n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

pretentious

1845, from Fr. prétentieux (17c.), from prétention "pretension," from M.L. pretentionem (nom. pretentio) "pretension," from L.L. prætensus "pretend" (see pretense).

Example sentences

In my opinion, evolutionary theories such as this are pretentious and offensive.

In lesser hands it would surely end up disjointed and pretentious.

But consider the pretentious piece of tripe in which he is, let us say with

kindness, currently trapped.

The phone's name might be a tad pretentious but we'll be damned if it doesn't

live up to it.

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Matching Quote

"Quotation ... A writer expresses himself in words that have been used before because they give his meaning better than he can give it himself, or because they are beautiful or witty, or because he expects them to touch a cord of association in his reader, or because he wishes to show that he is learned and well read. Quotations due to the last motive are invariably ill-advised; the discerning reader detects it and is contemptuous; the undiscerning is perhaps impressed, but even then is at the same time repelled, pretentious quotations being the surest road to tedium."

-Henry W. Fowler