What is the meaning of pretext?

noun

  • Something serving to conceal plans; a fictitious reason that is concocted in order to conceal the real reason.
  • An artful or simulated semblance.
    • usage: "under the guise of friendship he betrayed them"
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APAWordNet. (2010). pretext. Retrieved September 20, 2026, from http://smartdefine.org/pretext/definitions/1217494
ChicagoWordNet. 2010. "pretext" http://smartdefine.org/pretext/definitions/1217494 (accessed September 20, 2026).
HarvardWordNet 2010, pretext, Smart Define, viewed 20 September, 2026, <http://smartdefine.org/pretext/definitions/1217494>.
MLAWordNet. "pretext" 23 October 2010. Web. 20 September 2026. <http://smartdefine.org/pretext/definitions/1217494>
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