pretext
/ˈpɹiːtɛkst/ noun C1- 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.
Plural pretexts
From the library
Marseilles is filled with half-pay officers, who are daily, under one frivolous pretext or other, getting up quarrels with the royalists; from hence arise continual and fatal duels among the higher classes of persons, and assassinations in the lower.”
I won’t remain supperless, even though you refute every one of my imputations.” The tyrant will always find a pretext for his tyranny.
I have been three times in his rooms, twice waiting for him under different pretexts and leaving before he came.
It’s high time you were all in bed!” On various pretexts they all moved off, and Alice was soon left alone.
Other matches
Learn pretext in real texts
With a free account, hover any word in the library for its meaning, hear it read aloud, save words for review timed to your memory, and see how much of each book you already know.