feign

[ feyn ]

verb (used with object)

1. to represent fictitiously; put on an appearance of:

   to feign sickness.

2. to invent fictitiously or deceptively, as a story or an excuse.
3. to imitate deceptively:

   to feign another's voice.

verb (used without object)

1. to make believe; pretend:

   She's only feigning, she isn't really ill.

feign

/ feɪn /

verb

1. to put on a show of (a quality or emotion); pretend

   to feign innocence

2. tr to make up; invent

   to feign an excuse

3. tr to copy; imitate

   to feign someone's laugh

Derived Forms

• ˈfeigningly, adverb
• ˈfeigner, noun

Other Words From

• feign·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of feign¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English fei(g)nen, from Old French feign-, present stem of faindre, feindre, from Latin fingere “to feign, invent, shape”

Word History and Origins

Origin of feign¹

C13: from Old French feindre to pretend, from Latin fingere to form, shape, invent

Synonym Study

See pretend.

Example Sentences

He put two pupils into headlocks and also feigned a punch and kick at one of them, the court heard.

From BBC

When I confront the group of boys, one feigns innocence, claiming he’d been speaking to his friend.

From BBC

Veronica offers to go upstairs with Luther instead, but he feigns confusion.

From Los Angeles Times

The Republican nominee responded with feigned ignorance: "Uh, I don't know the situation."

From Salon

Moreover, Stewart highlighted various statements from the U.S. and foreign policy officials who have feigned ignorance saying the U.S. was unaware when Israel would deploy these bombs, claiming, "it was not involved in these incidents."

From Salon