[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/pretext.html)

[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/) / [The school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/) / pretext

[← P](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/P/)

# pretext

«pretext» in Mova's school dictionary: **A false reason given to hide the real reason for doing…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples.

### part of speech

noun (a pretext, pretexts)

### meaning for a pupil

1) A false reason given to hide the real reason for doing something: «He called on the pretext of borrowing sugar, but really he wanted to see the puppy.» [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pretext/#m1)

2) An excuse used to start something, like a fight or a war. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pretext/#m2)

### sense in the lessons

In stories and history lessons a pretext reveals hidden motives: a villain or a country uses a pretext to do what it wanted all along. In online safety, scammers use pretexts (a fake parcel, a fake prize) to get your details. Phrases: «on the pretext of», «under the pretext that», «a pretext for».

### examples

- She went to the kitchen on the pretext of getting water, but really she wanted biscuits. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pretext/#x1)
- The invaders used a small border fight as a pretext for war. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pretext/#x2)
- The scammer phoned on the pretext of checking the bank account. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pretext/#x3)
- He made up a pretext to leave the party early. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pretext/#x4)
- Asking for directions was just a pretext to start talking. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pretext/#x5)
- Never give your password, whatever pretext someone gives. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pretext/#x6)
- Then he leaves the room, under the pretext of giving an order, and Nikita takes his place. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pretext/#x7)

### note

Countable: a pretext, pretexts. Use «on/under the pretext of» + noun or -ing. Stress: PRE-text. A pretext is always false or hiding something; an honest reason is not a pretext. Not related to «text» messages in meaning.

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «pretext» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/pretext/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.