noun

pretender

prih-TEHN-duhr

noun

Someone who claims a right to a position, especially a throne, though the claim is often disputed.

"The exiled prince remained a pretender to the throne for decades."

Someone who fakes a quality, belief, or status they don't genuinely have.

"He turned out to be a pretender with no real expertise in the field."

How to Use Pretender

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither a rival claimant to a title, or someone faking who they really are.

Common pairings

pretender to the throne

pretendered past tense, pretenders plural, pretenders singular

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The exiled prince remained a _____ to the throne for decades.

From pretend + -er.

ender gender fender tender bender render lender sender slender blender spender lavender