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.
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
But those relationships were based on false pretenses.
From Salon • Sep. 26, 2023
Analysts say those ships often transfer their oil to other ships, that then sell the crude oil under false pretenses.
From Washington Times • Jul. 12, 2023
Motif said in one of the filings that Impossible's use of "false pretenses" to gain information was "alarming" and "unethical."
From Reuters • May 25, 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.
