Answer:
Pretense is the noun form of the verb to pretend. Pretense is creating a false identity, appearance, or facade. It shares a common concept with deception.
It means doing one thing but making it appear that you are doing something else. One act can be a legitimate cover for an illegitimate one.
Example sentences :
"They got the cookie jar out of the pantry on the pretense that they were looking for the bread."
"They entered the country on the pretense of being tourists, but they were actually spies".