noun
feint
faynt
noun
1
A deceptive move meant to distract an opponent from a real attack.
"The boxer threw a feint with his left before landing the real punch with his right."
verb
1
To make a deceptive move to distract an opponent.
"She feinted left, then dodged right past the defender."
How to Use Feint
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA fake move in combat or sport meant to trick your opponent into reacting the wrong way.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "feign," which means to fake an emotion or condition rather than make a tactical fake move.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
throw a feint
feint left
feint an attack
Word Forms
feinted past tense, feints plural, feints singular
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The boxer threw a _____ with his left before landing the real punch with his right.
Etymology
From French feinte, "a dummy move," from feindre, "to feign" — ultimately from Latin fingere.