Absurd pretence (7)
I believe the answer is:
charade
'absurd pretence' is the definition.
(a ridiculous pretence or show)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for charade that I've seen before include "absurd act" , "Blatant deception" , "Farcical pretence" , "Travesty, mockery" , "sham" .)