feign
Americanverb (used with object)
-
feigns,
present (3rd person singular)
-
feigned,
past participle, past
-
feigning
present participle
-
to represent fictitiously; put on an appearance of.
to feign sickness.
-
to invent fictitiously or deceptively, as a story or an excuse.
-
to imitate deceptively.
to feign another's voice.
verb (used without object)
-
feigns,
present (3rd person singular)
-
feigned,
past participle, past
-
feigning
present participle
verb
-
to put on a show of (a quality or emotion); pretend
to feign innocence
-
(tr) to make up; invent
to feign an excuse
-
(tr) to copy; imitate
to feign someone's laugh
Synonym Usage
See pretend.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
feignsimple
-
feignssimple
-
have feignedperfect
-
has feignedperfect
-
am feigningprogressive
-
are feigningprogressive
-
is feigningprogressive
-
have been feigningperfect progressive
-
has been feigningperfect progressive
Past
-
feignedsimple
-
had feignedperfect
-
was feigningprogressive
-
were feigningprogressive
-
had been feigningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of feign
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”
Explanation
For a more formal way to say pretend to or imitate, choose the verb feign. You might feign indifference when you hear about some gossip, but you're probably dying to know. Feign comes from the Latin fingere, "to devise, fabricate." The word fiction comes from the same source, so if you feign something such as sleep, you give off the fiction that you are sleeping. This can be done to be polite but also to deceive such as when you feign an injury or the flu so you can stay home from school or work. You can also feign an accent, though some are better at this than others.
Vocabulary lists containing feign
Essential Academic Vocabulary for High School Students, List 1
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Romeo and Juliet
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ASVAB Word Knowledge
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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.
See Examples For:
Blacknell said no medical professionals have found that Linton was “malingering,” or attempting to feign a medical condition for gain.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026
Our civilization shouldn’t feign excessive humility and modesty while America inspires creative drive.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 18, 2025
It’s weird to be paranoid or to feign paranoia as part of an elaborate performance to manipulate rubes.
From Slate ● Aug. 6, 2025
I would feign shock or dismay at its popularity if I didn’t already know that we are a nation of self-serving masochists.
From Salon ● Apr. 8, 2025
I had not yet learned to feign knowledge that I did not possess, and as I had only a vague idea what a B.A. was, I questioned Mathona.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
She feigns outrage loudly, according to people who like her, and yells maniacally, according to people who don’t.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 5, 2026
When I confront the group of boys, one feigns innocence, claiming he’d been speaking to his friend.
From BBC ● Nov. 9, 2024
A burst of laughter and applause erupts from the crowd as he feigns confusion by turning and pointing to invisible supporters, as if he does not realize his back is to them.
From New York Times ● Oct. 30, 2023
Miranda feigns being open, but she'd rather shape Che's world to her liking instead of fulfilling the reason for her move to L.A., the purpose of which was to be in her lover's world.
From Salon ● Jul. 9, 2023
While Jasper, his spaniel ears a-droop, feigns indifference to the arrival of the cakes.
From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier
Which woman will accept his obviously feigned love?
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 18, 2026
That leaves only the feigned feud between Paul and Gronkowski — Brady’s longtime pal and New England Patriots teammate.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 20, 2026
For real — not like the astonishment Zoë Kravitz feigned in a Golden Globes-set episode of “The Studio,” faking disbelief at the podium when she knew all along that she was going to win.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 27, 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
Instead he feigned great interest in the . clouds and he cried, “That cloud which hangs upon the left horn of the new moon speaks of rain. It will come not later than tomorrow night.”
From "The Good Earth" by Pearl S. Buck
"Showing awareness could suggest a degree of mutual understanding," but feigning ignorance signals that the issue could become a key bargaining point in any future talks with Trump, Hong said.
From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026
Manager Dave Roberts and his pitching coaches haven’t been particularly forthcoming, either, feigning ignorance about the glove that looks as big as Sasaki’s head.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026
Spaeny: It’s what every actor is thinking except they’re feigning ...
From Los Angeles Times ● May 27, 2026
However, the “Hannah Montana” star did not end her mockery there—going on to accuse Cooper of feigning innocence about the proximity of their properties.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 31, 2026
At thq council table Varys smiled knowingly, Little- finger sat feigning boredom, and Pycelle gaped like a fish, pale and confused.
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
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