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
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
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
Ms Heer said Harris "feigned ignorance" by sending two messages to the victim asking what had happened.
From BBC • Jan. 16, 2025
“What money?” he asked in a tone of feigned surprise.
From "Native Son" by Richard Wright
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.
