pretence pretence /prɪˈtɛns/

noun

1. () [Canadian, British] An artful or simulated semblance  ( guise , pretense [ N. American] , pretext , pretence [Canadian, British] )
   an artful or simulated semblance
    Under the guise of friendship he betrayed them
   under the guise of friendship he betrayed them
   
2. () [Canadian, British] A false or unsupportable quality  ( pretense [ N. American] , pretence [Canadian, British] , pretension )
   a false or unsupportable quality
   
3. [Canadian, British] The act of giving a false appearance  ( feigning , pretence [Canadian, British] , pretending , pretense [ N. American] , simulation )
   the act of giving a false appearance
    His conformity was only pretending
   his conformity was only pretending
   
4. [Canadian, British] Imaginative intellectual play  ( make-believe , pretence [Canadian, British] , pretense [ N. American] )
   imaginative intellectual play
   
5. [Canadian, British] Pretending with intention to deceive  ( dissembling , feigning , pretence [Canadian, British] , pretense [ N. American] )
   pretending with intention to deceive