verb
feign
fayn
verb
1
To pretend to feel or have something that isn't real.
"She feigned surprise when they announced the winner, even though she already knew."
"He feigned illness to avoid going to work."
How to Use Feign
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo fake an emotion, illness, or reaction that you don't actually have.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "feint," a related but distinct word meaning a deceptive move in combat or sport.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
feign surprise
feign ignorance
feign interest
Word Forms
feigned past tense, feigns singular
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She _____ surprise when they announced the winner, even though she already knew.
Etymology
From Old French feindre, "to pretend," from Latin fingere, "to shape or invent" — a relative of fiction and figment.