What is pretentious?

Pretentious is a term used to describe someone or something that is trying too hard to be impressive, sophisticated or important, often in a way that is overly showy or excessive. A person is often accused of being pretentious when they try to be more knowledgeable, cultured, artistic, or stylish than they really are, or when they pretend to have a level of expertise or experience that they don't really have. Additionally, pretentious people often use unnecessarily complex language or references to obscure or esoteric topics as a way of making themselves appear smarter or more worldly. The term pretentious has a negative connotation and is generally used to criticize someone or something that is seen as inauthentic, self-important, or trying too hard to impress others.