Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

pretext

[pree-tekst] / ˈpri tɛkst /


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The Prince Group spokesman said the allegations by the U.S. and other countries against Chen and his companies are false and a pretext for seizing their assets.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

Instead he uses the war as a pretext for urging modern Britain to “accelerate munitions production” in preparation for a “European War” whose antagonists remain largely unspecified.

From Salon • Apr. 14, 2026

They were going to court for hearings they had to attend, then getting scooped up under a pretext that itself turned out to be a lie.

From Slate • Mar. 27, 2026

Prosecutors say the first team of Russian operatives arrived in Angola's capital, Luanda, in 2024 under the pretext of opening a Russian cultural centre, a project that never materialised.

From BBC • Mar. 23, 2026

He even posed as a slave catcher named “James Olney,” prying slaves from jail on the pretext of delivering them to their masters.

From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead




Vocabulary lists containing pretext


Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "pretext" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com