Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

false pretenses

noun

/fɔls ˈpriːˌtɛnsɪz/

Definition

The act of deceiving someone to gain something, often involving misrepresentation of the truth.

Examples

He was arrested for obtaining money under false pretenses.
The scam was based on false pretenses, leading many to lose their savings.
She acted with false pretenses when she promised to deliver the goods that she never intended to provide.

Meaning

False pretenses refers to a situation where an individual uses deceit or trickery to achieve a goal, typically to obtain property or services under false claims.