Pretext definition

prētĕkst
A reason or excuse given to hide the real reason for something.
noun
6
0
A cover-up; front.
noun
5
2

The reporter called the company on the pretext of trying to resolve a consumer complaint.

noun
3
0
A false reason or motive put forth to hide the real one; excuse.
noun
3
1
To employ a pretext, which involves using a false or contrived purpose for soliciting the gain of something else.

The spy obtained his phone records using possibly-illegal pretexting methods.

verb
2
3
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The definition of a pretext is an excuse or a cover up for the truth.

An example of a pretext is a person saying that she is having a small family dinner at home while a group of people are waiting there to surprise her father for his birthday.

noun
0
2

Other Word Forms

Noun

Singular:
pretext
Plural:
pretexts

Origin of pretext

  • Latin praetextum from neuter past participle of praetexere to disguise prae- pre- texere to weave teks- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From French prétexte, from Latin praetextum (“an ornament, etc., wrought in front, a pretense"), neuter of praetextus, past participle of praetexere (“to weave before, fringe or border, allege").

    From Wiktionary

Pretext Sentence Examples

  • But they served as a sufficient pretext, and in.

  • To prevent this interference, or rather to give no pretext for it, was his guiding thought as to foreign policy.

  • On the contrary it served as a pretext for Ivan to interfere in Lithuanian affairs.

  • The duke went to England in 1360 as a hostage for the fulfilment of the treaty of Bretigny, returning to France in 1367 on the pretext of collecting his ransom.

  • These acquisitions were made between 1328 and 1338; in the latter year Orkhan achieved his first conquest from Mussulman hands by the capture of Karassi, the pretext being the quarrel for the succession on the death of the prince, Ajlan Bey.

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