to pretend vs. to feign

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Hi,
I know that verbs ‘to pretend’ and ‘to feign’ are similar. What’s the difference in use?

2

Both suggest that you are giving a false impression but they are used in a different way. You would say: Fred is pretending to be ill or Fred is feigning illness.

3

Thanks, Alan!