false pretense

English

Alternative forms

• false pretence (British spelling)

Noun

false pretense (plural false pretenses) (American spelling)

1. A representation made of untrue assertions in order to convey a false impression.

   She enrolled at the university under false pretenses, giving an invented birth date and lying about her qualifications.

Usage notes

• Often used in the plural, even if only one false representation has apparently been made.

Translations

representation of untrue facts

• Finnish: väärä peruste
• Icelandic: falskar forsendur f pl, svik (is) n pl