pretext
English
Etymology
From French prétexte, from Latin praetextum (“an ornament, etc., wrought in front, a pretense”), neuter of praetextus, past participle of praetexere (“to weave before, fringe or border, allege”).
Pronunciation
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Audio (US) (file)
Noun
pretext (plural pretexts)
- A false, contrived or assumed purpose; a pretense.
- The reporter called the company on the pretext of trying to resolve a consumer complaint.
- 2012 May 27, Nathan Rabin, “TV: Review: THE SIMPSONS (CLASSIC): “New Kid On The Block” (season 4, episode 8; originally aired 11/12/1992)”, The Onion AV Club:
- When that metaphor proves untenable, he switches to insisting that women are like beer but that’s mainly as a pretext to drink until he passes out in a father-son bonding haze.
Synonyms
- See also Wikisaurus:pretext
Translations
false, contrived or assumed purpose
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Verb
pretext (third-person singular simple present pretexts, present participle pretexting, simple past and past participle pretexted)
- To employ a pretext, which involves using a false or contrived purpose for soliciting the gain of something else.
- The spy obtained his phone records using possibly-illegal pretexting methods.
Synonyms
- blag (UK)
Translations
employ a pretext
See also
Social engineering on Wikipedia.Wikipedia:Social engineering
External links
- pretext in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- pretext in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911