pretense

A false appearance or action intended to deceive.

A professed but feigned reason or excuse; a pretext.

Something imagined or pretended.

The quality or state of being pretentious; ostentation.

A false or studied show; an affectation.

A claim or assertion to a right, especially a false one.

An intention; a design; a purpose.

The act of pretending, or putting forward something to conceal the true state of affairs, and thus to deceive; hence, the representation of that which does not exist; simulation; feigning; a false or hypocritical show; a sham.