Feigning: meaning, definitions and examples

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feigning

 

[ feɪnɪŋ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

pretend

To feign means to pretend to have a particular feeling, problem, or illness.

Synonyms

fake, pretend, simulate.

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Word Description / Examples
feigning

Feigning is typically used when someone is deliberately giving a false impression, usually to deceive or mislead others. It can have a slightly negative connotation and is often used in formal contexts.

  • She was feigning illness to avoid going to work
  • The actor was feigning surprise when he received the award
pretend

Pretend is used when someone is acting as though something is true when it is not, often for a playful or imaginative purpose. Although it can be used to describe deception, it doesn't always carry a negative meaning.

  • The children pretended to be pirates
  • He pretended not to see her
fake

Fake is often used in casual speech to describe something that is not real or genuine. This word is commonly associated with objects, emotions, or actions that are intentionally designed to deceive. It has a negative connotation.

  • He bought a fake watch from the street market
  • Her smile was obviously fake
simulate

Simulate is often used in technical or scientific contexts where recreating a scenario or condition is necessary for study or training. It doesn't carry a negative connotation and is generally used in a neutral or professional manner.

  • The flight simulator is used to train pilots
  • Scientists simulate various weather conditions in the lab

Examples of usage

  • He feigned illness to avoid going to school.
  • She feigned surprise when she saw the birthday cake.

Translations

Translations of the word "feigning" in other languages:

🇵🇹 fingindo

🇮🇳 बहाना करना

🇩🇪 vortäuschen

🇮🇩 berpura-pura

🇺🇦 удавання

🇵🇱 udawanie

🇯🇵 ふりをする

🇫🇷 feindre

🇪🇸 fingir

🇹🇷 numara yapmak

🇰🇷 가장하다

🇸🇦 التظاهر

🇨🇿 předstírání

🇸🇰 predstierať

🇨🇳 假装

🇸🇮 pretvarjati se

🇮🇸 þykjast

🇰🇿 жалғандау

🇬🇪 თავის მოჩვენება

🇦🇿 yalançıqlıq

🇲🇽 fingir

Etymology

The word 'feign' originated from the Old French word 'feindre' which means 'to pretend'. It entered the English language in the 13th century. The use of 'feigning' to describe pretending or faking has been prevalent in literature and everyday language for centuries.

See also: feign, feigned.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #24,573, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.