dictionary.pt
pretext
nounmasculinegeneral usecommon/pɾɨ.ˈtɐjʃ.tu/pre·tex·to
Definition
1A reason or excuse given to justify an action, often false or exaggerated, that conceals the real intention.
Usage examples
“He used the meeting as a pretext to avoid the party.”
“Under the pretext of helping, he just wanted to snoop around.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Common combinations
under the pretext offind a pretextfalse pretextserve as a pretext