feigned
Americanadjective
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pretended; sham; counterfeit.
feigned enthusiasm.
-
assumed; fictitious.
a feigned name.
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disguised.
a feigned voice.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of feigned
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?
Vocabulary lists containing feigned
Fake It 'Til You Make It: Synonyms for "False"
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The Kite Runner
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Twelfth Night
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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
I kind of knew that, but when she had that reaction, which was not feigned at all, that was like a shot of advice from the heart.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 26, 2026
When another student enters and surveys the bodies on the ground in poorly feigned shock, few manage to suppress their giggles.
From Salon ● Jul. 29, 2025
“Oliver’s feigned outrage at Dr. Morley was fabricated for ratings and profits at the expense of Dr. Morley’s reputation and personal well-being.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 2, 2025
Jinx stuck out his bottom lip and spoke with a feigned country-bumpkin accent.
From "Moon Over Manifest" by Clare Vanderpool
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
