pretext
About 2.28 uses per million words.
Meaning
- noun 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.
- verb 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 words
pretence guise stalking-horse pretense subterfuge disguise motive apology argument excuse
Often followed by
for of that to or was and whatever whatsoever
Word family
pretexts
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