unfeigned

Unfeigned is an adjective meaning not feigned; genuine; sincere; not pretended. It emphasizes the absence of deception and is often used to describe feelings, reactions, or conduct that are authentic rather than contrived. The word is formed from the prefix un- attached to feigned, with feigned deriving from Old French feindre and ultimately from Latin fingere, “to shape, pretend, or invent.”

In usage, unfeigned is common in formal, literary, or religious contexts. It appears before nouns or participles: unfeigned gratitude, unfeigned admiration, unfeigned joy, unfeigned love. It is stronger than simply claiming sincerity, signaling a purity and honesty of feeling. In modern speech, it has a somewhat archaic or elevated tone, and synonyms include genuine, sincere, heartfelt, or frank.

Biblical and historical texts frequently employ unfeigned, as in references to “unfeigned faith” or “unfeigned love of the brethren,” conveying a sense of unpretentious devotion.

See also: feigned, sincerity, genuineness.