feigned
Americanadjective
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pretended; sham; counterfeit.
feigned enthusiasm.
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assumed; fictitious.
a feigned name.
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disguised.
a feigned voice.
Other Word Forms
Derived 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.
Which woman will accept his obviously feigned love?
From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 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
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
“Go on,” Johnson says with a feigned seriousness.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 4, 2025
Listen,” he said, and began to read with a feigned accent.
From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein
Definitions 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.
