1. He used a business trip as a pretext to visit his girlfriend. (daily)
彼は彼女に会いに行く口実として出張を利用した。
2. She called me under the pretext of asking for advice. (daily)
彼女は相談したいという口実で私に電話してきた。
3. He left the party on the pretext of having an early morning. (daily)
彼は朝が早いという口実でパーティーを抜けた

Nuance

pretext often implies that the stated reason is merely a cover for the real purpose. It is somewhat more formal than excuse and is common in business, politics, journalism, and serious discussions.

Vocabulary