To be pretentious is to make a claim or put on an act to:
A) Fit into a group.
B) Appear "better" than you are or than others.
Pretentious people often fit into 2 groups:
i) Stupid pretentious people who no nothing of the subject they are acting pretentious about.
ii) Clever pretentious people who know about the subject they are acting pretentious about but think this makes them better.
A) Fit into a group.
B) Appear "better" than you are or than others.
Pretentious people often fit into 2 groups:
i) Stupid pretentious people who no nothing of the subject they are acting pretentious about.
ii) Clever pretentious people who know about the subject they are acting pretentious about but think this makes them better.
a) Look I have the same boots as you now! That makes me a true Punk/Goth/Rocker/insert generic group name.
b) You didn't like my poem? Well you probably didn't understand it. It was very deep.
i) I am a goth I love HIM.
ii) I have a degree in Philosophy...I therefore know a little more about theology than you could.
Another Example: My definition of "pretentious" is much better than the others on this site because I have an A in English.
Pretentious people often have no sense of humour and never laugh at themselves.
b) You didn't like my poem? Well you probably didn't understand it. It was very deep.
i) I am a goth I love HIM.
ii) I have a degree in Philosophy...I therefore know a little more about theology than you could.
Another Example: My definition of "pretentious" is much better than the others on this site because I have an A in English.
Pretentious people often have no sense of humour and never laugh at themselves.
by Mike December 19, 2005
Definitely two meanings, and they really depend on the attitudes of the user, and what the user thinks is fake or real. So:
A) "Pretentious" can be a useful phrase to describe something that is fake or pretend, or somebody who is pretending in order to conform. Sometimes it is still used that way.
B) Its meaning has also become completely the opposite. In the English-speaking world, "pretentious" has become a catch-all phrase to criticize anything or anyone that is vaguely heartfelt, intellectual, earnest, sincere, artistic, unconventional, nonconformist, non-commercial, or not on TV, on Youtube or in the supermarket.
A) "Pretentious" can be a useful phrase to describe something that is fake or pretend, or somebody who is pretending in order to conform. Sometimes it is still used that way.
B) Its meaning has also become completely the opposite. In the English-speaking world, "pretentious" has become a catch-all phrase to criticize anything or anyone that is vaguely heartfelt, intellectual, earnest, sincere, artistic, unconventional, nonconformist, non-commercial, or not on TV, on Youtube or in the supermarket.
Take your pick:
A) The blonde in American Beauty, Angela Hayes, lied about having lost her virginity and being sex-mad. In fact, she was an insecure virgin, and worried about what people would think of her. So she pretended to be a slut. She was pretentious.
B) The lonely boy in American Beauty, Ricky Fitts, who thought the plastic bag in the wind was beautiful couldn't really have thought that, he just wanted to be different from other people, and was pretending to be deep. He was pretentious.
A) The blonde in American Beauty, Angela Hayes, lied about having lost her virginity and being sex-mad. In fact, she was an insecure virgin, and worried about what people would think of her. So she pretended to be a slut. She was pretentious.
B) The lonely boy in American Beauty, Ricky Fitts, who thought the plastic bag in the wind was beautiful couldn't really have thought that, he just wanted to be different from other people, and was pretending to be deep. He was pretentious.
by khcvb June 7, 2010
eg. Tom-Hey isn't that Megan an arrogant bitch, Steve-Yeah mate, needs to take her head out of her own arse. Tom-Yeah how pretentious
by TommyDLW May 28, 2012
The medical term for when someone manages to get their head so far up their own ass, that you could consider it a medical emergency.
Some call it serious but most people just call it annoying.
More common amongst teens usually emo or goth, but can still be spotted in adults. Best way to deal with these people is to just not give them the time of day.
Some call it serious but most people just call it annoying.
More common amongst teens usually emo or goth, but can still be spotted in adults. Best way to deal with these people is to just not give them the time of day.
by Whycantmynamebetrash August 29, 2018
displaying a self-image of being "special", "intelligent", and "different". not content with being average, and striving to be the best at everything and grabbing all attention. speaking in cliches. having no humility or originality.
AF: Doubt, give reason to smile. Guilt hears false pretenses.
me: What!?
AF: The wind caressed my face.
me: Your pretentiousness makes me want to staple your mouth shut.
me: What!?
AF: The wind caressed my face.
me: Your pretentiousness makes me want to staple your mouth shut.
by ohohohohohoh April 20, 2009
Someone who throws the word around precariously as if somehow to be better than the other. A hypocrite, heavy flattery and an overbearing need to fit in with cliques.
by Boring Payne March 2, 2010
adj.
1. A word that is often abused by pseudo-intellectuals.
2. Used to arrogantly display one's own pretentious tendencies by criticizing masterly works or people (e.g. art-rock bands--see. Radiohead)
3. Evokes strong evidence of hypocrisy in one's nature.
4. A word that, once applied, unfairly destroys geniuses and their works with one swift and cheap movement of affectation.
1. A word that is often abused by pseudo-intellectuals.
2. Used to arrogantly display one's own pretentious tendencies by criticizing masterly works or people (e.g. art-rock bands--see. Radiohead)
3. Evokes strong evidence of hypocrisy in one's nature.
4. A word that, once applied, unfairly destroys geniuses and their works with one swift and cheap movement of affectation.
I am not pretentious and I make no claims to a position of merit, and therefore I don't demand that you agree with me.
by Limey August 12, 2004