Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun One who simulates, pretends, or alleges falsely; a hypocrite or dissembler.
  • noun One who sets forth a claim, especially a claimant to a throne.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun One who pretends, or makes a false show, as of learning or of legal right.
  • noun One who pretends, or puts forward a claim; a claimant; an aspirant.
  • noun Specifically, a claimant to a throne.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun One who lays claim, or asserts a title (to something); a claimant.
  • noun One who pretends, simulates, or feigns.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A person who professes beliefs and opinions that they do not hold.
  • noun A claimant to an abolished or already occupied throne.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a claimant to the throne or to the office of ruler (usually without just title)
  • noun a person who makes deceitful pretenses
  • noun a person who professes beliefs and opinions that he or she does not hold in order to conceal his or her real feelings or motives

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

to pretend + -er

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Examples

  • I wonder if pretender is going to do that dumb ass Bruce Springsteen crap today.

    Think Progress » Church Uses Marquee To Speak Out Against Beck: ‘Sorry Mr Beck, Jesus Preached Social Justice’ 2010

  • Meanwhile, the pretender is huddling with Meathead.

    Balloon Juice » 2002 » September 2002

  • Third, the world sees no near-term pretender to the throne because neither the divergent economies within the Euro zone nor the undemocratic Chinese regime command sufficient confidence in their respective currencies.

    NYT > Opinion 2008

  • Third, the world sees no near-term pretender to the throne because neither the divergent economies within the Euro zone nor the undemocratic Chinese regime command sufficient confidence in their respective currencies.

    NYT > Opinion 2008

  • Third, the world sees no near-term pretender to the throne because neither the divergent economies within the Euro zone nor the undemocratic Chinese regime command sufficient confidence in their respective currencies.

    NYT > Opinion 2008

  • Third, the world sees no near-term pretender to the throne because neither the divergent economies within the Euro zone nor the undemocratic Chinese regime command sufficient confidence in their respective currencies.

    NYT > Opinion 2008

  • Third, the world sees no near-term pretender to the throne because neither the divergent economies within the Euro zone nor the undemocratic Chinese regime command sufficient confidence in their respective currencies.

    NYT > Opinion 2008

  • Third, the world sees no near-term pretender to the throne because neither the divergent economies within the Euro zone nor the undemocratic Chinese regime command sufficient confidence in their respective currencies.

    NYT > Opinion 2008

  • P6 doesn't seem impressive, but given fellow title pretender Hamilton's struggles, Felipe Massa is quite happy after he managed to scrape through in the difficult Q2 session and then qualify sixth.

    MotorAuthority - Latest News 2008

  • Third, the world sees no near-term pretender to the throne because neither the divergent economies within the Euro zone nor the undemocratic Chinese regime command sufficient confidence in their respective currencies.

    NYT > Opinion 2008

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