unfeigned

American  

[uhn-feynd] / ʌnˈfeɪnd /

adjective

1. not feigned; sincere; genuine.

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Other Word Forms

• unfeignedly adverb
• unfeignedness noun

Etymology

Origin of unfeigned

First recorded in 1325–75, unfeigned is from the Middle English word unfeynid. See un- ¹, feign, -ed ²

Explanation

Feign means to fake, or pretend, so unfeigned means sincere. If you greet a friend with unfeigned joy, she'll know you are happy to see her. Unfeigned is a delightful word, pertaining as it often does to young, innocent, and trusting people––the ones who cannot hide their feelings. Who wants fake laughs when you can have unfeigned laughter? Or fake tears when unfeigned sorrow is so much more affecting? When spelling unfeigned, remember the poem: "'i' before 'e,' except after 'c,' or when sounding like 'a,' as in 'neighbor' or 'weigh'." Or unfeigned.

Example Sentences

Leonard, despite his clearly unfeigned kindness, turns out to be the bearer of less-than-benevolent tidings.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 1, 2023

Yet, with unfeigned emotion, he repeated the Declaration’s stirring phrases and told his audience that Jefferson “left us so very, very much.”

From Washington Post • Oct. 19, 2021

She has a splendid smile, full of mischief and wisdom: a small and compact woman buoyed by that straight-up, unfeigned southern warmth that abides no matter where you encounter it.

From The Guardian • Jan. 17, 2020

I’m so sorry your friend died, and I absolutely believe that his distress was real and unfeigned.

From Slate • Jan. 16, 2020

So it was with unfeigned relief I learned at breakfast that, owing to the violence of the tempest, the mail steamer we expected to travel in had been unable to leave Barcelona.

From The Fortunate Isles Life and Travel in Majorca, Minorca and Iviza by Boyd, Mary Stuart