pretext
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pretext
- /ˈpɹiːtɛkst/
Rhymes with -iːtɛkst
Where it comes from
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”).
noun pretexts
-
A false, contrived, or assumed purpose or reason; a pretense.
The reporter called the company on the pretext of trying to resolve a consumer complaint.
Similar: alibi, stall, canard, excuse, plea, pretense, pretension, pretext, zhuangbility
verb pretexts · pretexting · pretexted
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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.
Similar: blag
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: pretence, guise, stalking-horse, pretense, subterfuge, disguise, motive, apology, argument, excuse, circumstance, justification, opportunity, occasion, plea, rationale
Translations
Every language
noun false, contrived or assumed purpose
| Español | pretexto, callejuela |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 핑계 pinggye |
| 日本語 | 口実 kōjitsu |
| 中文 | 借口 jièkǒu |
| Português | pretexto |
| Français | prétexte |
| Deutsch | Vorwand, Deckmantel, fadenscheinige Begründung, Ausrede, Scheingrund, Schein |
| Italiano | pretesto, scusante |
| Ελληνικά | πρόφαση prófasi, πρόσχημα próschima |
| Русский | по́вод póvod, предло́г predlóg, отгово́рка otgovórka |
| Tiếng Việt | cớ |
| العربية | ذَرِيعَة ḏarīʕa, عُذْر ʕuḏr |
| עברית | תירוץ terúts |
verb employ a pretext
| Español | pretextar |
|---|---|
| Português | pretextar |
| Français | prétexter |
| Deutsch | etwas vorgeben, einen Vorwand verwenden, etwas vorschützen, etwas vorspiegeln, so tun, als ob |
| Tiếng Việt | mượn cớ |
| עברית | אמתלה amátlah |
Talk about this word "pretext." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/pretext. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. pretext. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/pretext "pretext." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/pretext.Cite this
@misc{pretext_2026,
title = {pretext},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/pretext},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
