Excuse or Reason in Advance of Doing Something

This page is the CodyCross answer for the clue below from Student Life , Group 934, Puzzle 3 (Letter Tracing).

Question is: Excuse or Reason in Advance of Doing Something

and the answer is: PRETEXT

Word Meaning:

PRETEXT — A false, contrived, or assumed purpose or reason; a pretense.

Definitions from Wiktionary.