Legal Definitions - feign

Feign

To feign means to pretend or simulate something, such as an emotion, condition, or intention, with the deliberate aim of deceiving others. It involves creating a false impression or making a show of something that is not genuine.

• During a heated debate, one politician might feign a sudden coughing fit to interrupt their opponent's argument and regain control of the conversation.

  This illustrates feigning because the politician is pretending to have a physical ailment (a coughing fit) to achieve a strategic advantage, rather than genuinely experiencing it.

• A job applicant, despite having no prior experience in a particular software, might feign familiarity with it during an interview, hoping to appear more qualified for the role.

  Here, the applicant is pretending to possess a skill or knowledge they do not genuinely have, creating a false impression to improve their chances of employment.

• In a negotiation for a new car, a buyer might feign disinterest in a specific model, even if they truly love it, to encourage the salesperson to offer a lower price.

  This example demonstrates feigning an emotion (disinterest) as a tactic to influence the other party's actions and secure a more favorable outcome.