1. Something serving to conceal plans; a fictitious reason that is concocted in order to conceal the real reason
   - stalking-horse 
2. An artful or simulated semblance
   - guise, pretense [N. Amer], pretence [Brit, Cdn]

Derived forms: pretexts

Type of: color [US], colour [Brit, Cdn], dissembling, feigning, gloss, pretence [Brit, Cdn], pretense [N. Amer], semblance

Encyclopedia: Pretext

• National Labor Relations Board
• national leader
• National Liberation Army
• National Liberation Front of Corsica
• National Library of Medicine
• national monument
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• national park
• National Park Service
• National Reconnaissance Office
• National Rifle Association
• National Science Foundation
• National Security Agency
• National Security Council
• national service
• national socialism
• national socialist
• National Socialist German Workers' Party
• National Technical Information Service
• national trading policy
• National Trust
• National Volunteers Association
• National Weather Service
• nationalisation
• nationalise