: support or agitation for the deposed Stuart dynasty in England
Word History
Etymology
pretender + -ism; from the use of the term "Old Pretender" as a nickname for James Francis Edward Stuart †1766 claimant to the throne of England by virtue of being the only son of the deposed Stuart king James II, and the use of the term "Young Pretender" as a nickname for Charles Edward Louis Philip Casimir Stuart †1788 claimant to the throne of England by virtue of being the elder son of James Francis Edward Stuart