feign

(fān)

v. feigned, feign·ing, feigns

v.tr.

a. To give a false appearance of: feign sleep.

b. To represent falsely; pretend to: feign authorship of a novel.

2. To imitate so as to deceive: feign another's voice.

3. To fabricate: feigned an excuse.

4. Archaic To invent or imagine.

v.intr.

To pretend; dissemble.

[Middle English feinen, from Old French feindre, from Latin fingere, to shape, form; see dheigh- in Indo-European roots.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun	1.	feigning - pretending with intention to deceive dissembling, pretense, pretence deception, misrepresentation, deceit - a misleading falsehood bluff - pretense that your position is stronger than it really is; "his bluff succeeded in getting him accepted" pretext, stalking-horse - something serving to conceal plans; a fictitious reason that is concocted in order to conceal the real reason hypocrisy, lip service - an expression of agreement that is not supported by real conviction
	2.	feigning - the act of giving a false appearance; "his conformity was only pretending" pretending, pretense, simulation, pretence dissimulation, deception, dissembling, deceit - the act of deceiving show, appearance - pretending that something is the case in order to make a good impression; "they try to keep up appearances"; "that ceremony is just for show" pretend, make-believe - the enactment of a pretense; "it was just pretend" affectation, affectedness, mannerism, pose - a deliberate pretense or exaggerated display masquerade - making a false outward show; "a beggar's masquerade of wealth"

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

Jerry, feigning interest in digging a hole in the sand as if he were on a fresh scent, was unaware of Michael's nearness.

View in context

Then, feigning a tiff, he would close his manuscript, and all the ladies with their birdlike voices would beseech him with "Oh, no, Messer Firenzuola, please go on again; it's SO charming!" while, as if by accident, Madonna Selvaggia's moonlike bosom would once more slip out its heavenly silver, perceiving which, Messer Firenzuola would open his manuscript again and proceed with his sweet learning.

View in context

1992: Tottenham complained to the FA over reported comments by referee Dermot Gallagher, who was quoted as saying that he had booked Gordon Durie for feigning injury to get an opponent sent off.

On this day

But Wa Hellen would not be through with you if she suspected that you were feigning illness to miss school.She would proceed to flush you out of the house and chase you all the way to school as she gently licked your back with one of her slippers.

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Feigning Chinese accents and flaunting huge wads of 'cash,' the suspects sought her help in opening an account in a Malinta bank.

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(10) do not provide strong recommendations on assessment of feigning.

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"I confronted Craig and took him to see Freddy Shepherd, and in the end he admitted he was feigning injury."

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In a statement, the FA said: "Although attempts to deceive the referee by feigning injury or pretending to have been fouled is a cautionable offence for unsporting behaviour, the fact that the act of simulation has succeeded in deceiving a match official and, therefore, led to a penalty and/or dismissal, justifies a more severe penalty which would act as a deterrent."

Hopes of getting away with it take a DIVE

But Huth might wonder how he once got done for being a bit of a prat on Twitter while punishing Sanchez for feigning injury was not really an option open to the Football Association.

Football stars must be role models.. not rolling about models

And when Moira arrives in a panic telling her Noah is missing, she does a great job in feigning shock and horror.

WE LOVE SOAPS

GAA disciplinary chiefs have insisted Tiernan McCann was guilty of 'feigning an injury' against Monaghan - but accepted that he shouldn't have been banned.

Feigning injury still the issue

In addition, the reciprocity discourse surrounding heterosexual encounters can also shed light on men's feigning behaviour.

The development and validation of the motives for feigning orgasms scale