A pretext is usually an excuse.
A pretext is an argument or reason used to justify an action or to explain why something has not been done. Sometimes, the pretext is what is announced as a reason but which, in reality, hides another motivation that is not disseminated.
For example: “Tell me the truth, I don't want excuses: why did you call Delfina?” , “Under the pretext of defending democracy, terrible crimes have been committed” , “There are no more pretexts for this government: it must fulfill what it promised in its campaign” .
Etymology of pretext
Before moving forward with the meaning of the term pretext, we are going to determine its etymological origin. In this sense, we have to explain that it derives from Latin, specifically from the word praetextus . This, in turn, comes from the verb praetexere , which is composed of two parts: the prefix prae , which means "before" , and texere , which is equivalent to "weave" .
This Latin word was used to refer to a series of embroideries that were made on the front of certain garments and that were intended to cover certain areas.
It is common for a public figure to provide excuses to justify his or her actions in an interview.
an excuse
The most common use of the concept associates the pretext with an excuse . The authorities of a country can spy on the communications of its citizens, claiming that such actions are carried out to improve national security and to prevent possible terrorist attacks. For the opposition, however, this argument is a pretext to control people and persecute those who do not agree with the government.
It is also common for many people to use an excuse when breaking up a romantic relationship. In this way, instead of openly saying that they are no longer in love or that they have met someone, they use the excuse that they need time because they are going through a moment of "personal conflict."
Excuses in sport
In the field of sport , the coach of a team can justify a defeat due to the absence of several of his players due to injuries. Some people, however, may think that this is just a pretext not to accept the group's poor performance .
A good example of pretext took place when, years ago, Marseille managers pointed out that coach Marcelo Bielsa 's arguments for leaving the club were a pretext. That is to say, the leaders considered that the alleged lack of “agreement” put forward by the Argentine technical director was a simple excuse to leave the club, possibly because more interesting projects had been put on the table.
More uses of the notion
In certain contexts, it can be said that a certain celebration is a pretext to sell products and carry out commercial activities. Something similar can be said about the Week of Sweetness that takes place in some regions and consists of giving sweets to loved ones.
We must not overlook that, curiously, there is a publishing house that goes by the name of Pre-Textos . A play on words is what this Spanish company uses as its name, which was launched in 1976 and has numerous awards to its credit, such as the National Award for Best Editorial ( 1997 ) or the FIL Award . of Guadalajara in 2008 .