Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense feigns, present participle feigning, past tense, past participle feigned
verb
If someone feigns a particular feeling, attitude, or physical condition, they try to make other people think that they have it or are experiencing it, although this is not true.
[formal]
One morning, I didn't want to go to school, and decided to feign illness. [VERB noun]
'Giles phoned this morning,' Mirella said with feigned indifference. [VERB-ed]
[Also VERB to-infinitive]
Synonyms: pretend, affect, assume, put on More Synonyms of feign
feign in British English
(feɪn)
verb
1.
to put on a show of (a quality or emotion); pretend
to feign innocence
2. (transitive)
to make up; invent
to feign an excuse
3. (transitive)
to copy; imitate
to feign someone's laugh
Derived forms
feigner (ˈfeigner)
noun
feigningly (ˈfeigningly)
adverb
Word origin
C13: from Old French feindre to pretend, from Latin fingere to form, shape, invent
feign in American English
(feɪn)
verb transitive
1. Obsolete
to form; shape
2.
to make up (a story, excuse, etc.); invent; fabricate
3.
to make a false show of; pretend; imitate; simulate
4. Archaic
to imagine
verb intransitive
5.
to pretend; dissemble
SIMILAR WORDS: asˈsume
Derived forms
feigner (ˈfeigner)
noun
Word origin
ME feinen < OFr feindre (prp. feignant) < L fingere, to touch, handle, shape: see figure
Examples of 'feign' in a sentence
feign
The fact that you are in hospital frees you from the guilt and fear that your bosses might think that you're feigning illness.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It was no longer possible for the world to sit passively by and feign ignorance.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It is said that one could have feigned illness.
Kishlansky, Mark A. (editor) Sources of the West: Readings in Western Civilization, Volume 1: From the Beginningto 1715 (1995)
Instead they skip school or feign illness.
Steinberg, Laurence & Levine, Ann You and Your Adolescent: A Parents' Guide for Ages 10 to 20 (1990)
He would feign illness and his gran would indulge him.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The one who had been sitting on the doorstep feigning indifference while glancing sideways at us.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
But as it all went wrong yesterday they ended up having to feign indifference.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Now she has to feign interest in the baseball game.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
We are fed up with the expenses system and feigned innocence of those caught with their fingers in the till.
The Sun (2014)
When it came to the financial concerns, they feigned ignorance.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Instead, we feign a clumsy indifference to it in public.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
For the most part, we are more likely to turn away or feign indifference.
Christianity Today (2000)
The fathers who feign interest at that stage are Just making it up.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
I used to moan and grumble and feign illness.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
This makes an average of thirty little parcels which it's only proper to open with feigned joy and surprise.
The Times Literary Supplement (2014)
He feigned surprise when one of his wife's colleagues rang to say that she had not arrived at work.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
How do you keep your guests awake during the slow bits, until the big hitters swagger up to feign surprise and humility?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
There are some things that men should discuss only with close friends because close friends love them enough to feign genuine interest in their fractured love life.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Plan B was to feign mental illness.
The Sun (2010)
Four medical experts had examined him and agreed that it was'out of the question' that he was feigning illness.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Having assets frozen ahead of court appearances counters a common fraudster's tactic, which is to draw out proceedings by changing lawyers and feigning illnesses.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
In other languages
feign
British English: feign VERB
If someone feigns a particular feeling or physical condition, they try to make other people think that they have it or are experiencing it.
One morning, I didn't want to go to school, and decided to feign illness.
American English: feign
Brazilian Portuguese: fingir
Chinese: 佯作
European Spanish: fingir
French: feindre
German: vortäuschen
Italian: fingere
Japanese: ふりをする
Korean: ~을 가장하다
European Portuguese: fingir
Latin American Spanish: fingir
Chinese translation of 'feign'
feign
(feɪn)
vt
(frm)[illness, interest]假装(裝) (jiǎzhuāng)
(verb)
Definition
to pretend to experience (a particular feeling)
You can't feign interest in something you loathe.
Synonyms
pretend
He pretended to be asleep.
affect
He listened to them, affecting an amused interest.
assume
He assumed an air of superiority.
put on
devise
forge
They forged dollar notes.
fake
He faked nonchalance.
imitate
a precedent which may be imitated by other activists
simulate
They rolled about, simulating a bloodthirsty fight.
sham
act
They were just acting tough.
fabricate
All four claim that the evidence against them is fabricated.
counterfeit
He financed a plot to counterfeit gold coins.
give the appearance of
dissemble
make a show of
Additional synonyms
in the sense of act
They were just acting tough.
Synonyms
play,
seem to be,
pose as,
pretend to be,
posture as,
imitate,
sham,
feign,
characterize,
enact,
personify,
impersonate,
play the part of
in the sense of affect
Definition
to put on a show of
He listened to them, affecting an amused interest.