pretendant noun. [prɪ'tɛnd(ǝ)nt] Also pretendent. L16.
[French prétendant pres. pple of prétendre: see PRETEND verb, -ANT¹.]
1. A person who intends something. rare. Only in L16.

2. A claimant; esp. a fraudulent claimant to a throne or office. Now rare. E17.

3. A suitor, a wooer. Also, a plaintiff in a lawsuit. M17.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲