What does pretext mean?
Word: Pretext
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Pretext means a false reason given for doing something, to hide the real reason.
Synonyms: excuse, pretence
Word origin: Comes from Latin praetextus, 'an outward show or display'.
How do you spell pretext?
Syllables: pre - text
Tricky part: The second half is the everyday word text, so keep both the x and the final t. Writing pretex, or pretects for the 'ks' sound, is the usual slip.
Watch out for: pretex, pretects
Memory tip: Picture a sign held up in front of the truth: that sign is the pretext. The 'ks' sound is one x, and the word finishes on a firm t.
Pretext in a sentence
Example 1: Meera phoned her cousin on the pretext of asking about homework, but really she wanted to chat about the match.
Example 2: He visited the sweet shop every evening under the pretext of buying the newspaper.
Example 3: The puppy uses any pretext to climb onto the sofa.
Fun Fact
Text and pretext are distant cousins: both go back to the Latin verb texere, 'to weave', which also gives English textile and texture.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Fusion
Read the clue and choose the two parts that make the word:
This is a false reason given to hide the real one. 1. pri 2. pre 3. pra 4. text 5. port 6. tend
a) 2 and 4
b) 1 and 6
c) 1 and 4
d) 3 and 4
Show answer
a) 2 and 4. Pre means before: a pretext is put before the real reason to hide it.
Word Puzzle
Match the words with the correct options:
1. pretext 2. context 3. subtext a. the situation in which something happens b. a hidden meaning that is suggested but not said c. a false reason given to hide the real one
a) 1-a, 2-c, 3-b
b) 1-b, 2-a, 3-c
c) 1-c, 2-b, 3-a
d) 1-c, 2-a, 3-b
Show answer
d) 1-c, 2-a, 3-b. All three end in text, but only a pretext is a cover for the real reason.
Word Tally
You get 3 marks for each correctly spelt word in the list. How many marks will you get?
pretext, excuze, apology, sincerly, reason
a) 9
b) 12
c) 15
d) 6
Show answer
a) 9. Excuse is spelt with an s and sincerely keeps the e of sincere, so three words score three marks each.
Spell Spies
Choose the misspelt word/s in the given sentence:
Saying he had left his cricket bat behind, Aarav used that pretext to slip into the staff kitchin and peek at the birthday cake made for his favourite teecher.
a) kitchin and teecher
b) only kitchin
c) only teecher
d) pretext and favourite
Show answer
a) kitchin and teecher. Kitchen ends in en and teacher has the ea of teach; pretext and favourite are correct.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. In which situation is someone using a pretext?
a) handing in homework on the right day
b) saying you need water to leave a dull talk
c) telling a friend the real reason you were late
d) thanking your aunt for a birthday gift
Show answer
b) saying you need water to leave a dull talk
2. If a teacher says 'that was only a pretext', she thinks the reason given was ___.
a) very well planned
b) too long to explain
c) not the real one
d) already known to all
Show answer
c) not the real one
