feigned

American  

[feynd] / feɪnd /

adjective

1. pretended; sham; counterfeit.

   feigned enthusiasm.

2. assumed; fictitious.

   a feigned name.

3. disguised.

   a feigned voice.

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Other Word Forms

• feignedly adverb
• feignedness noun

Etymology

Origin of feigned

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English; feign + -ed ²

Explanation

Feigned is an adjective that means "not genuine," like your feigned interest in your friends' discussion of celebrity hairstyle trends. The word feigned, pronounce "faynd," comes from the Old French word feign, which means "pretend, imitate, shirk." Feigned emotions aren't real, and therefore, they are a bit dishonest. You act like you care but you really don't. Maybe you are just being nice, like your feigned enthusiasm for your dad's woodworking projects — you know how much he enjoys it, so why not act interested?

Example Sentences

Back when he was in first grade, Bennett feigned illness so he could get sent home and spend some time with his dad, whom he hadn’t seen in two weeks.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2026

As those scenes played in New York, Swift affectionately turned to Saunders and yelled, "YES!" as he giggled and covered his face in feigned shyness.

From BBC • Dec. 12, 2025

I feigned disappointment but secretly sighed with relief: The last time I’d come, the pod’s door hadn’t closed, spiking my adrenaline even more during the seven-minute trip across the valley.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 30, 2025

When a press release informed me Howie had scheduled a brief homecoming, I feigned a news hook: If I could interview him by phone, I would write a feature about "Stuck Rubber Baby."

From Salon • Feb. 9, 2025

While among them, I may have feigned disinterest, but like my father I watched them closely and listened whenever they spoke.

From "Hole in My Life" by Jack Gantos