Pretext

/ˈpriː.tɛkst/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A reason given in justification of a course of action that is not the real reason.

He made a donation to the charity as a pretext for avoiding taxes.

An excuse or facade for a specific behavior or decision.

Under the pretext of needing advice, she sought him out to rekindle their old relationship.

A false appearing motive or justification.

The manager used a pretext of company policy to deny the employees' request for a raise.

From Latin 'praetextus', meaning 'to cover or conceal'.

under the pretext

doing something while claiming a misleading reason.

pretext for action

an excuse that is used to justify a certain action.

on false pretenses

acting under a deception, often legally or morally questionable.

pretense

An attempt to make something that is not the case appear true.

guise

An external appearance concealing the true nature of something.

subterfuge

A trick or deceit used to achieve one's goal.

Cover story

He always has a cover story to explain his late arrivals.

Excuse note

She wrote an excuse note to skip class but really just went shopping.