pretext
nounUK /ˈpriːtekst/
US /ˈpriːtekst/
A false reason you give so people won't know your real reason.
She said she was tired as a pretext to leave the party early.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A reason that is not true, used to hide what you are really doing.
He used a business trip as a pretext for visiting his old friends.
3. Something made up to make an action seem acceptable.
The broken alarm was just a pretext for canceling the meeting.
4. A false appearance or claim put forward to conceal the truth.
Under the pretext of helping, they gathered information about the company.