Pretext meaning

prē'tĕkst'
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.

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A reason or excuse given to hide the real reason for something.
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A false reason or motive put forth to hide the real one; excuse.
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A cover-up; front.
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The reporter called the company on the pretext of trying to resolve a consumer complaint.

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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.

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Origin of pretext

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").

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.

  • Unlike the priest, Mayer made no pretext that Byrne wasn't as dead as a Jacob Marley's knocker and, as Mayer described, was "walking the streets of gold with the angels."

  • 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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Words near pretext in the Dictionary