false pretenses
Americanplural noun
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a deliberate misrepresentation of facts, as to obtain title to money or property.
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the use of such misrepresentation.
Etymology
Origin of false pretenses
First recorded in 1750–60
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.
Barofsky said Fain declared under false pretenses that Boyer had been derelict in his duties.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026
“Not every spy is to your flavor of monogamy,” Kathryn tells George when he organizes a dinner party to begin sniffing out the mole under false pretenses.
From Salon ● Mar. 14, 2025
Federal law forbids entering the country under false pretenses, but giving birth in another country is not a crime.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 26, 2024
Sam Miele was charged with four counts of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in an alleged scheme to defraud donors and obtain money under false pretenses.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 16, 2023
And yet he felt guilty, knowing that he was accepting the kid’s admiration under false pretenses, that he wasn’t cool at all, not at all.
From "The Chocolate War" by Robert Cormier
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
