in the pretext of

USAGE SUMMARY

"in the pretext of" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something is done under the appearance of something else. For example, "The company took advantage of its workers under the pretext of an unpaid internship."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

This short-sighted business-first policy, cloaked in the pretext of reaching out to "moderates" in Iran, has a price paid in innocent human lives.

Independent

It has vast forest area although declining due to indiscriminate deforestation especially through the recent introduction of land deals in the pretext of large scale agricultural investments.

Forest Ecosystems

"When was the last time a blender needed an unsolicited purchase in the pretext of a certain upgrade?" For Beales, a retired mortgage banker, the move from Android to iOS was prompted by a "must have" feature: FaceTime, the popular video telephony application.

Huffington Post

(Past participant, rural, male) "Government people keep us threatened that action may be taken against us in the pretext of some irregularity in PNDT".

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

A few days before the second round, the army – fearing an FIS takeover – stepped in under the pretext of safeguarding the national interest, cancelled the elections and forced Bendjedid to resign in January 1992.

The Guardian

This neighborhood first came under assault from Shiite militias, then from pro-Al Qaeda Iraqi Sunnis, who moved in on the pretext of protecting the Sunnis from the Shiites and then imposed a reign of Islamist terror on them.

The New York Times

This has opened the door for the government to step in under the pretext of defending the people of Sri Lanka from foreign intervention.

Huffington Post

For the first time in history, Shia fighters cross borders to fight in jihad, as happened in Syria under the pretext of protecting Shia shrines.

The Guardian

He recalled, for Slon.ru, an independent Russian news site, how the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, in 1979, under the pretext of helping a "fraternal" ally in Kabul; to Parkhomenko, Putin's decision to couch his military action as the "protection" of Russians living in Crimea is an equally transparent pretext.

The New Yorker

Allied never admitted any involvement in the pretexting of Mr. Greenberg or the stock analyst.

The New York Times

Today, when Putin and his cheerleaders in the west claim Russia has legitimate interests in Ukraine – as they justified Russia's aggression in Georgia on the pretext of protecting Russian citizens – they seem to ignore the facts.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in the pretext of" to clearly convey that an action's stated reason is not its real or only reason. For example, "They increased security measures in the pretext of public safety, but their true goal was preventing protests."

Common error

Avoid using "in the pretext of" when you simply mean "because of" or "due to". The phrase implies deception or a hidden agenda, so it should only be used when there's a suspicion of ulterior motives.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in the pretext of" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase. It modifies a verb or noun, adding information about the circumstances surrounding an action. It indicates that an action is done under a false or misleading reason, as illustrated by the examples Ludwig provides.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "in the pretext of" is a prepositional phrase used to express skepticism or suspicion about the stated reason behind an action. It is grammatically correct and best suited for neutral and formal contexts, as confirmed by Ludwig. The phrase suggests underlying, often deceptive, motives. Ludwig's AI indicates it's a valid and understandable expression, particularly when you suspect a hidden agenda. Remember, it's more than just "because of"; it implies there's more to the story than meets the eye.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

under the guise of

Replaces "pretext" with "guise", emphasizing the deceptive appearance.

under the cover of

Uses "cover" instead of "pretext", suggesting a hidden or shielded action.

on the pretense of

Substitutes "pretext" with "pretense", highlighting the falseness of the reason.

with the excuse of

Emphasizes the justification provided, which may not be the real reason.

as a smokescreen for

Suggests that the stated reason is used to conceal the true motivation.

ostensibly for

Highlights that the given reason is what appears to be true, but may not be.

purportedly for

Similar to "ostensibly", indicating a claim that may or may not be genuine.

on the surface for

Indicates a superficial reason that masks a deeper or different motivation.

in the name of

Suggests that an action is being done to represent, but not necessarily for real, an objective.

masquerading as

Describes something that is falsely presented or disguised as something else.

FAQs

How can I use "in the pretext of" in a sentence?

Use "in the pretext of" to show that something is done under a false or misleading reason. Example: "The government increased surveillance "in the pretext of" national security, but the real goal was to suppress dissent."

What's a simple substitute for "in the pretext of"?

Alternatives include "under the guise of", "under the cover of", or "on the pretense of", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it more formal to say "in the pretext of" or "under the guise of"?

"In the pretext of" and "under the guise of" are both relatively formal, suitable for academic or professional writing. The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

What is the difference between "in the pretext of" and "because of"?

"In the pretext of" suggests a deceptive reason, while "because of" simply indicates a cause. If someone does something "in the pretext of" safety, it implies they have another, perhaps hidden, reason. "Because of" safety implies that safety is the genuine reason.