pretext
A false, contrived, or assumed purpose or reasonA false, contrived, or assumed purpose or reason; a pretense.
Recorded US: Neskaya, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
» He delayed payment on some pretext or other.
Tatoeba contributors · Tatoeba · CC BY 2.0 FRMeaning
1 sensesA false, contrived, or assumed purpose or reason; a pretense.
The reporter called the company on the pretext of trying to resolve a consumer complaint.
Vorwand, Deckmantel, fadenscheinige Begründung
по́водpóvod, предло́гpredlóg, отгово́ркаotgovórka
при́відprývid, за́чіпкаzáčipka, при́ключкаprýključka
- something serving to conceal plans; a fictitious reason that is concocted in order to conceal the real reason
- an artful or simulated semblance
Examples
23 sentencesHe delayed payment on some pretext or other.
I'm starting to think it's just a pretext.
ruЯ начинаю думать, что это просто предлог. — marafon
He did not come on the pretext of sickness.
ruОн не пришёл, сказавшись больным. — Ooneykcall
deUnter dem Vorwand, krank zu sein, kam er nicht. — xtofu80
He made up a pretext for a fight with me.
ruОн придумал предлог для драки со мной. — odexed
Treating disagreement as censorship is a pretext to censor disagreement.
Translations
8 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
From Latin praetextum (“an ornament, etc., wrought in front, a pretense”), neuter of praetFrom Latin praetextum (“an ornament, etc., wrought in front, a pretense”), neuter of praetextus, past participle of praetexere (“to weave before, fringe or border, allege”).
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
plural: pretextsSynonyms
11 synonymsWord family
2 related wordsSee also
neighbours in the dictionaryDictionary text adapted from Wiktionary (Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet / Princeton WordNet (CC BY 4.0, WordNet License); shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. Example sentences and recordings are credited where they appear.