unpretentious
un-prih-TEN-shuhs
/ˌʌn.prɪˈten.ʃəs/
Pleasantly simple and functional; not attempting to impress others with fake importance, wealth, or culture.
Applies frequently to venues, food, lifestyle, or people that are genuine, direct, and straightforward.
The story behind the word. To 'pretend' comes from Latin 'praetendere', meaning 'to hold out a curtain or screen'. A pretentious person holds out a illusion to impress others. Prefixing 'un-' describes someone or something that drops all masks and displays genuine simplicity.
Word relationships
- unassuming: Unassuming refers to a quiet personal presence, while unpretentious highlights a lack of artificial flair or showiness.
- down-to-earth: Down-to-earth is more informal and highlights practical common sense, whereas unpretentious contrasts with pretension.
- pretentious: Pretentious means trying to appear more grand, wise, or important than is justified.
- ostentatious: Ostentatious means vulgar or showy display designed to impress.
Commonly confused with
- unpretending: Unpretending is an older literary synonym, whereas unpretentious is the standard modern usage.
Word family
- unpretentiousness (noun): The quality of being unpretentious.
- unpretentiously (adverb): In an unpretentious manner.
Collocations
- unpretentious restaurant
- unpretentious charm
- unpretentious style
- remarkably unpretentious
Example sentences
- "The bistro serves unpretentious, delicious meals in a warm and welcoming atmosphere." Food and dining review
- "Despite his aristocratic background, the author maintained an unpretentious demeanor toward his readers." Character analysis
Memory hook
UN-PRETENTIOUS = NOT PRETENDING to be fancy. No pretense, no pretension.
When not to use
Do not use to describe something that is crude or poorly made; unpretentious means simple, not low quality.
Fun facts
- In restaurant reviews, 'unpretentious' is one of the top five positive descriptors used for high-quality comfort food spots!
Related words
Explore more words
straightforward, pretentious, unfeigned, sincere, authentic, untouched
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