Definition of pretext in English:

pretext

noun ˈpriːtɛkstˈpriˌtɛkst

A reason given in justification of a course of action that is not the real reason.
the rebels had the perfect pretext for making their move
he called round on the pretext of asking after her mother
Example sentencesExamples
- The day before he carried out the bomb attack, he left the house under the pretext he was going to visit friends.
- I remember most of all the strange inactivity of the powerful - there were plenty of legal pretexts to arrest anyone who physically barred the tankers' way out, but nothing much seemed to happen.
- We're the ones who unquestioningly march behind bullies into other countries on fictitious pretexts.
- He has often sought to justify repression on the pretexts of threatened coups against his government.
- Moreover, where national enterprises are non-competitive, the imperial states invent pretexts to protect them from more efficient producers.
- Various pretexts, excuses, and complications have been invoked over the years, but essentially this is a matter of politically motivated exclusion.
- States which are defenseless can be attacked at will, with the most flimsy pretexts and virtually no international support.
- The buzz is that the political agenda of the Minister's visit was merely a pretext.
- Any sign of opposition, real or imagined, was the pretext for a massive retaliation.
- Defendants can usually win a continuance on the flimsiest of pretexts, and their strategy typically is to delay and delay until the woman gives up the prosecution.
- They may cloak themselves in all manner of legalistic garb, prattling about human rights and producing other pretexts for trying to stop us because we're on the side of the angels.
- Of course, there are always good pretexts to postpone political reform.
- That time frame leaves an almost inexhaustible supply of pretexts to draw upon in the fight against the West.
- The centerpiece of that strategy is the use of minor infractions as pretexts to lock up suspects on whom the government lacks sufficient evidence to accuse them of more serious crimes.
- But it has become increasingly clear to them that the pretexts for the war were false.
- We find pretexts and excuses to nip through the main room to check on David, bringing him half an orange, a chunk of chocolate, so he knows we're still thinking of him.
- For example, the Disability Discrimination Act applies to small business and service providers but apparently local authorities and their partners, on any number of pretexts, can fail to comply.
- Government officials have used concern for real estate value and tourism appeal as pretexts for such abuses.
- If not, we are again using a pretext to cover intervention that is really motivated by another purpose altogether.
- The usual pretexts for war were used, which resulted in profits for the privileged few.
Synonyms
excuse, false excuse, ostensible reason, alleged reason, plea, supposed grounds
guise, ploy, pretence, ruse, semblance, show, blind, pose, masquerade, mask, cloak, veil, veneer, smokescreen, camouflage, cover, travesty, parody, charade

Origin

Early 16th century: from Latin praetextus 'outward display', from the verb praetexere 'to disguise', from prae 'before' + texere 'weave'.

Definition of pretext in US English:

pretext

nounˈprēˌtekstˈpriˌtɛkst

A reason given in justification of a course of action that is not the real reason.
the rebels had the perfect pretext for making their move
Example sentencesExamples
- Of course, there are always good pretexts to postpone political reform.
- But it has become increasingly clear to them that the pretexts for the war were false.
- We find pretexts and excuses to nip through the main room to check on David, bringing him half an orange, a chunk of chocolate, so he knows we're still thinking of him.
- Defendants can usually win a continuance on the flimsiest of pretexts, and their strategy typically is to delay and delay until the woman gives up the prosecution.
- The centerpiece of that strategy is the use of minor infractions as pretexts to lock up suspects on whom the government lacks sufficient evidence to accuse them of more serious crimes.
- That time frame leaves an almost inexhaustible supply of pretexts to draw upon in the fight against the West.
- States which are defenseless can be attacked at will, with the most flimsy pretexts and virtually no international support.
- Various pretexts, excuses, and complications have been invoked over the years, but essentially this is a matter of politically motivated exclusion.
- If not, we are again using a pretext to cover intervention that is really motivated by another purpose altogether.
- The buzz is that the political agenda of the Minister's visit was merely a pretext.
- The usual pretexts for war were used, which resulted in profits for the privileged few.
- He has often sought to justify repression on the pretexts of threatened coups against his government.
- I remember most of all the strange inactivity of the powerful - there were plenty of legal pretexts to arrest anyone who physically barred the tankers' way out, but nothing much seemed to happen.
- The day before he carried out the bomb attack, he left the house under the pretext he was going to visit friends.
- Government officials have used concern for real estate value and tourism appeal as pretexts for such abuses.
- They may cloak themselves in all manner of legalistic garb, prattling about human rights and producing other pretexts for trying to stop us because we're on the side of the angels.
- Moreover, where national enterprises are non-competitive, the imperial states invent pretexts to protect them from more efficient producers.
- Any sign of opposition, real or imagined, was the pretext for a massive retaliation.
- For example, the Disability Discrimination Act applies to small business and service providers but apparently local authorities and their partners, on any number of pretexts, can fail to comply.
- We're the ones who unquestioningly march behind bullies into other countries on fictitious pretexts.
Synonyms
excuse, false excuse, ostensible reason, alleged reason, plea, supposed grounds

Phrases

on (or under) the pretext

Giving the specified reason as one's justification.
the police raided Grand River on the pretext of looking for moonshiners
Example sentencesExamples
- One taste and you'll be tempted to take an entire cake home on the pretext that it's your birthday.
- Yet we are able to justify and rationalise our actions on the pretext that our sins are lesser as after all we are men and women who were ordained for each other.
- When I finished, a few people took the microphone on the pretext of asking a question.
- I could bow out of teaching for them on the pretext of needing to care for my friend without admitting the truth.
- I excused myself on the pretext of getting my card, which I said was in my bag in the bedroom (in truth it was in my pocket).

Origin

Early 16th century: from Latin praetextus ‘outward display’, from the verb praetexere ‘to disguise’, from prae ‘before’ + texere ‘weave’.

单词	pretext
释义	Definition of pretext in English: pretext noun ˈpriːtɛkstˈpriˌtɛkst A reason given in justification of a course of action that is not the real reason. the rebels had the perfect pretext for making their move he called round on the pretext of asking after her mother Example sentencesExamples The day before he carried out the bomb attack, he left the house under the pretext he was going to visit friends. I remember most of all the strange inactivity of the powerful - there were plenty of legal pretexts to arrest anyone who physically barred the tankers' way out, but nothing much seemed to happen. We're the ones who unquestioningly march behind bullies into other countries on fictitious pretexts. He has often sought to justify repression on the pretexts of threatened coups against his government. Moreover, where national enterprises are non-competitive, the imperial states invent pretexts to protect them from more efficient producers. Various pretexts, excuses, and complications have been invoked over the years, but essentially this is a matter of politically motivated exclusion. States which are defenseless can be attacked at will, with the most flimsy pretexts and virtually no international support. The buzz is that the political agenda of the Minister's visit was merely a pretext. Any sign of opposition, real or imagined, was the pretext for a massive retaliation. Defendants can usually win a continuance on the flimsiest of pretexts, and their strategy typically is to delay and delay until the woman gives up the prosecution. They may cloak themselves in all manner of legalistic garb, prattling about human rights and producing other pretexts for trying to stop us because we're on the side of the angels. Of course, there are always good pretexts to postpone political reform. That time frame leaves an almost inexhaustible supply of pretexts to draw upon in the fight against the West. The centerpiece of that strategy is the use of minor infractions as pretexts to lock up suspects on whom the government lacks sufficient evidence to accuse them of more serious crimes. But it has become increasingly clear to them that the pretexts for the war were false. We find pretexts and excuses to nip through the main room to check on David, bringing him half an orange, a chunk of chocolate, so he knows we're still thinking of him. For example, the Disability Discrimination Act applies to small business and service providers but apparently local authorities and their partners, on any number of pretexts, can fail to comply. Government officials have used concern for real estate value and tourism appeal as pretexts for such abuses. If not, we are again using a pretext to cover intervention that is really motivated by another purpose altogether. The usual pretexts for war were used, which resulted in profits for the privileged few. Synonyms excuse, false excuse, ostensible reason, alleged reason, plea, supposed grounds guise, ploy, pretence, ruse, semblance, show, blind, pose, masquerade, mask, cloak, veil, veneer, smokescreen, camouflage, cover, travesty, parody, charade Origin Early 16th century: from Latin praetextus 'outward display', from the verb praetexere 'to disguise', from prae 'before' + texere 'weave'. Definition of pretext in US English: pretext nounˈprēˌtekstˈpriˌtɛkst A reason given in justification of a course of action that is not the real reason. the rebels had the perfect pretext for making their move Example sentencesExamples Of course, there are always good pretexts to postpone political reform. But it has become increasingly clear to them that the pretexts for the war were false. We find pretexts and excuses to nip through the main room to check on David, bringing him half an orange, a chunk of chocolate, so he knows we're still thinking of him. Defendants can usually win a continuance on the flimsiest of pretexts, and their strategy typically is to delay and delay until the woman gives up the prosecution. The centerpiece of that strategy is the use of minor infractions as pretexts to lock up suspects on whom the government lacks sufficient evidence to accuse them of more serious crimes. That time frame leaves an almost inexhaustible supply of pretexts to draw upon in the fight against the West. States which are defenseless can be attacked at will, with the most flimsy pretexts and virtually no international support. Various pretexts, excuses, and complications have been invoked over the years, but essentially this is a matter of politically motivated exclusion. If not, we are again using a pretext to cover intervention that is really motivated by another purpose altogether. The buzz is that the political agenda of the Minister's visit was merely a pretext. The usual pretexts for war were used, which resulted in profits for the privileged few. He has often sought to justify repression on the pretexts of threatened coups against his government. I remember most of all the strange inactivity of the powerful - there were plenty of legal pretexts to arrest anyone who physically barred the tankers' way out, but nothing much seemed to happen. The day before he carried out the bomb attack, he left the house under the pretext he was going to visit friends. Government officials have used concern for real estate value and tourism appeal as pretexts for such abuses. They may cloak themselves in all manner of legalistic garb, prattling about human rights and producing other pretexts for trying to stop us because we're on the side of the angels. Moreover, where national enterprises are non-competitive, the imperial states invent pretexts to protect them from more efficient producers. Any sign of opposition, real or imagined, was the pretext for a massive retaliation. For example, the Disability Discrimination Act applies to small business and service providers but apparently local authorities and their partners, on any number of pretexts, can fail to comply. We're the ones who unquestioningly march behind bullies into other countries on fictitious pretexts. Synonyms excuse, false excuse, ostensible reason, alleged reason, plea, supposed grounds Phrases on (or under) the pretext Giving the specified reason as one's justification. the police raided Grand River on the pretext of looking for moonshiners Example sentencesExamples One taste and you'll be tempted to take an entire cake home on the pretext that it's your birthday. Yet we are able to justify and rationalise our actions on the pretext that our sins are lesser as after all we are men and women who were ordained for each other. When I finished, a few people took the microphone on the pretext of asking a question. I could bow out of teaching for them on the pretext of needing to care for my friend without admitting the truth. I excused myself on the pretext of getting my card, which I said was in my bag in the bedroom (in truth it was in my pocket). Origin Early 16th century: from Latin praetextus ‘outward display’, from the verb praetexere ‘to disguise’, from prae ‘before’ + texere ‘weave’. noun.1 phr.
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