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

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

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 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

So that night I feigned a flulike illness and locked myself in my room, then slipped out the window and climbed down a drainpipe to the ground.

From "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" by Ransom Riggs