Feign Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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feign

[feɪn ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Verb}

pretend

To feign means to pretend to have a particular feeling, problem, or injury. It is often done in order to deceive or trick others.

Synonyms

counterfeit, fabricate, fake, simulate.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
feign	Feign is used when someone is pretending to feel or do something, usually to deceive others. She feigned illness to avoid going to school He tried to feign interest in the boring conversation
simulate	Simulate is used when imitating or replicating certain conditions or actions, often for training or experiment purposes. The pilot had to simulate various emergency scenarios during training The computer program can simulate different weather patterns
fake	Fake is a general term that can refer to anything that is not real, and it often carries a negative connotation. She wore fake jewelry to the party He used a fake ID to get into the club
counterfeit	Counterfeit is typically used to describe fake money, documents, or goods that are made to deceive people into thinking they are real. The police arrested him for making counterfeit money Beware of counterfeit products sold online
fabricate	Fabricate is often used when someone creates a false story, information, or evidence, often with the intention to deceive. He fabricated the entire story to avoid getting into trouble They found out that the reports had been fabricated

Examples of usage

She feigned illness in order to skip school.
He feigned surprise when he saw the birthday party decorations.

^{Context #2 | Verb}

invent

To feign can also mean to invent a story or excuse, typically in order to deceive someone.

Synonyms

concoct, falsify, invent, make-up.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
feign	Best used when pretending to feel or be affected by something, especially to deceive others. She feigned illness to avoid going to school. He noticed she was feigning interest in the conversation.
concoct	Usually refers to creating something by combining various elements, often elaborately, and can carry a deceitful connotation. The chef concocted a special sauce for the dish. She concocted a story to explain her tardiness.
falsify	Mostly involves deliberately changing information to mislead someone, often with malicious intent. It has a negative connotation. The accountant was caught falsifying financial records. He tried to falsify documents to gain an advantage.
invent	Can be used when creating a new device, method, or story. It can be neutral or positive, depending on the context. Thomas Edison invented the light bulb. She invented a clever excuse for being late.
make-up	Often used when creating a story or excuse, and can imply that the information is not true or authentic. He made up a story to impress his friends. She made up an excuse to skip the meeting.

Examples of usage

She feigned a family emergency to get out of the meeting.
He feigned forgetfulness when asked about the missing documents.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Origin of 'feign'

The word 'feign' originated from the Old French word 'feindre', which came from the Latin word 'fingere' meaning 'to shape, fashion, or pretend'. The use of 'feign' in English dates back to the 13th century.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #24,830, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.

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24827 collaboratively
24828 firefighting
24829 gainfully
24830 feign
24831 booted
24832 simultaneity
24833 sherd
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