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.
Deception or underhanded behavior.
The art of dressing up; imposture.
Artifice; the use of one or more stratagems.
An instance of deception, underhanded behavior, dressing up, imposture, artifice, etc.