A false, contrived, or assumed purpose or reason; a pretense.
To employ a pretext, which involves using a false or contrived purpose for soliciting the gain of something else.
A false or deceitful seeming to undertake a thing for the purpose of defeating or destroying it.
Evasion of the truth.
A secret abuse in the exercise of a public office.
The collusion of an informer with the defendant, for the purpose of making a sham prosecution.