| 2. | pretext - an artful or simulated semblance; "under the guise of friendship he betrayed them"semblance, gloss, color, colour - an outward or token appearance or form that is deliberately misleading; "he hoped his claims would have a semblance of authenticity"; "he tried to give his falsehood the gloss of moral sanction"; "the situation soon took on a different color" | |