What does pretext mean?we found 5 entries for the meaning of pretext
 

PRETEXT. The reasons assigned to justify an act, which have only the appearance of truth, and which are without foundation; or which if true are not the true reasons for such act. Vattel, liv. 3, c. 3, 32.

Source: Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)
 

 

Pretext \Pre"text\ (?; 277), n. [F. pr['e]texte, L. praetextum, fr. praetextus, p. p. of praetexere to weave before, allege as an excuse; prae before + texere to weave. See Text.]

Ostensible reason or motive assigned or assumed as a color or cover for the real reason or motive; pretense; disguise. [1913 Webster]

They suck the blood of those they depend on, under a pretext of service and kindness. --L'Estrange. [1913 Webster]

With how much or how little pretext of reason. --Dr. H. More. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Pretense; excuse; semblance; disguise; appearance. See Pretense. [1913 Webster]

Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
 

 

94 Moby Thesaurus words for "pretext": acting, affectation, alibi, allege, alternative, appearance, attitudinizing, avow, bluff, bluffing, camouflage, cheating, choice, claim, cloak, color, coloring, cover, cover story, deception, delusion, disguise, dissemblance, dissembling, dissimulation, escape clause, escape hatch, excuse, explanation, facade, face, fakery, faking, false air, false front, false show, falsity, feigning, feint, four-flushing, fraud, front, gilt, gloss, guise, humbug, humbuggery, imposture, loophole, masquerade, meretriciousness, ostentation, outward show, playacting, plea, pose, posing, posture, pretend, pretense, pretension, profess, protest too much, purport, rational ground, rationale, rationalization, reason, reason for, reason why, red herring, representation, right, ruse, saving clause, seeming, semblance, sham, show, simulacrum, simulation, speciousness, stated cause, the big idea, the idea, the whatfor, the wherefore, the why, underlying reason, varnish, veil, way of escape, way out, window dressing

Source: Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0
 

 

pretext

noun

1: something serving to conceal plans; a fictitious reason that is concocted in order to conceal the real reason [syn: stalking-horse]
2: an artful or simulated semblance; "under the guise of friendship he betrayed them" [syn: guise, pretense, pretence]

Source: WordNet (r) 2.0
 

 

Pretext \Pre"text\ (?; 277), n. [F. pr['e]texte, L. praetextum, fr. praetextus, p. p. of praetexere to weave before, allege as an excuse; prae before + texere to weave. See Text.]

Ostensible reason or motive assigned or assumed as a color or cover for the real reason or motive; pretense; disguise.

They suck the blood of those they depend on, under a pretext of service and kindness. --L'Estrange.

With how much or how little pretext of reason. --Dr. H. More.

Syn: Pretense; excuse; semblance; disguise; appearance. See Pretense.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
 

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