Meaning of the word pretext in English

What does pretext mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.

pretext

US /ˈpriː.tekst/
UK /ˈpriː.tekst/

Noun

a reason given in justification of a course of action that is not the real reason

Example:
He called her on the pretext of asking for a recipe.
The war was started on a false pretext.