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pretext

UK
/ˈpriːtɛkst/
US
/ˈpriːtɛkst/

Translations

pretextnoun
pretexts
pl
UK
/ˈpriːtɛkst/
US
/ˈpriːtɛkst/
He used the need to visit his grandmother as a pretext to leave the meeting early.
Il a invoqué le besoin de rendre visite à sa grand-mère comme prétexte pour quitter la réunion plus tôt.
Synonyms
excuse
ruse
subterfuge
guise
cloak
cover
facade
pretense
pretextverb
pretexted
Past Simple
pretexted
Past Participle
pretexting
Gerund
UK
/ˈpriː.tɛkst/
US
/ˈpriˌtɛkst/
Rare, chiefly formal; transitive and intransitive
She pretexted illness to avoid attending the ceremony.
Elle a prétexté une maladie pour éviter d’assister à la cérémonie.
Synonyms
pretend
cover up
mask
simulate
sham
profess
allege
excuse
fabricate
feign
pretextadjective
Used attributively before a noun to mean ‘serving as a pretext’; rare outside attributive position.
prétextéEmploi attributif : « servant de prétexte », « ostensible ».
The officers made a pretext stop after noticing a minor traffic violation.
Les policiers ont procédé à un arrêt prétexté après avoir remarqué une infraction mineure au code de la route.

Definitions

pretextnoun
A reason given in justification of a course of action that is not the real reason.
He used the need to visit his grandmother as a pretext to leave the meeting early.
pretextverb
To give or put forward a false or insincere reason as a cover for one’s real motive or purpose.
She pretexted illness to avoid attending the ceremony.
(rare, archaic) To plan or intend beforehand; to contrive in advance.
The outcome had been pretexted long before the discussions began.
pretextadjective
Serving as or constituting a pretext; ostensible rather than real (used attributively).
The officers made a pretext stop after noticing a minor traffic violation.
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