false pretense

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Eight crimes listed in the 1890 version of the provision - bribery, theft, arson, obtaining money or goods under false pretense, perjury, forgery, embezzlement and bigamy - remain as disqualifying offenses today.

From Reuters • Jun. 30, 2023

Blacknell said the prosecution’s theory was that Yu had committed theft by embezzlement or false pretense by converting property of the registrar’s office for his own use, and defrauded the county by violating its contract.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 16, 2022

Twitter argues that Musk signed a contract to buy the company, and is using spam accounts as a false pretense to worm his way out of the deal.

From The Verge • Aug. 3, 2022

And this seems to be not even with a veneer of false pretense.

From Slate • May 25, 2021

Ollie brought me here under a false pretense, and I've finally learned a piece of information that could be useful, but he's told me help is impossible without really explaining why.

From "Girl in the Blue Coat" by Monica Hesse