pretext

noun
UK: /ˈpriːtekst/
US: /ˈpriːtekst/

  1. A false reason given to hide the real reason for doing something

    1. He called under the pretext of asking about her health.
    2. The border dispute was used as a pretext for military intervention by the neighboring country.

Synonyms

allegation pretense guise cover story excuse
pretext transitive-verb

  1. To invent a false reason or excuse.

    1. She pretexed illness to avoid the meeting.
    2. He pretexed ignorance as a strategy to avoid answering difficult questions regarding the issue.

Frequently Asked Questions

The phonetic transcription of "pretext" is /ˈpriːtekst/ in British English and /ˈpriːtekst/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "pretext": allegation, pretense, guise, cover story, excuse.

Example usage of "pretext": "He called under the pretext of asking about her health.". More examples on the page.