pretended ignorance

USAGE SUMMARY

"pretended ignorance" is a correct phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe a person who acts like they don't know or understand something, even though they actually do. For example: "Although he was fully aware of what was going on, he pretended ignorance and left the room."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Many broke tools, slowed the work pace, pretended ignorance, and in some cases, engaged in violence against their masters.

Cornell University

Hayward, "... like all worldlings raised a little in life, received us very coolly, and pretended ignorance of our affairs".

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

I want a loving relationship, but my feelings are so hurt I don't know if I can pretend ignorance.

The New York Times

After summoning the chiefs of Gaul, Caesar thought proper to pretend ignorance of the things which he had discovered; and having conciliated and confirmed their minds, and ordered some cavalry to be raised, resolved to make war against the Germans.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

I thought I would be doing a terrible thing to pretend ignorance.' Then I sprang my carefully prepared trap: 'If you truly believed that there was a Communist conspiracy that presented a real danger to our country, why did you stop there?

The Guardian - Books

When the projects failure is finally made public, he can pretend ignorance.

Forbes

Bush's strategy, like that of Ken Lay, is to talk a good game and pretend ignorance.

HuffPost

Recognising each other as adversaries, Bond and Largo begin a tense cat-and-mouse game of attempting to get the drop on each other while still pretending ignorance of their adversary's true nature.

Wikipedia

Due to the stigma associated with the condition, many people in rural communities might pretend ignorance of the condition.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

When the consultant, Aaronovitch, returned and proposed to take her into his confidence, she pretended complete ignorance — to protect the student doctor and to hear the fullest possible account of her illness.

The New Yorker

I make lists of my jewels and pretend ignorance of the bodyguards who are set to watch me -- at least they know I am there -- and nightly I receive the greatest man in the world, and that is very nice, even if he leaves me afterwards so as to be found in his own bed by his masseur in the morning.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "pretended ignorance", ensure the context clearly indicates the person is deliberately feigning a lack of knowledge, rather than genuinely being ignorant.

Common error

Avoid using "pretended ignorance" when someone is genuinely unaware of something. Use it specifically when there is a deliberate attempt to appear uninformed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pretended ignorance" functions as a noun phrase describing a deliberate action or behavior. It highlights the act of intentionally feigning a lack of knowledge or understanding. Ludwig confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "pretended ignorance" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe the act of deliberately feigning a lack of knowledge. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and, though relatively rare in occurrence, appears in various contexts, including news, academic writing and on wikis. While "pretended ignorance" is a valid phrase, being mindful of the intended meaning can help one utilize it correctly. Ensure the context reflects an intentional act rather than a genuine lack of awareness, and choose synonyms like "feigned ignorance" or "played dumb" depending on the desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

feigned ignorance

Emphasizes a deliberate act of deception to appear unaware.

feigned incomprehension

Emphasizes pretending not to understand the information.

played dumb

Informal way of saying someone acted as if they didn't understand something.

acted oblivious

Highlights the act of behaving as though one is unaware of something important.

affected nescience

Formal term for pretending to lack knowledge.

professed unawareness

Suggests a stated claim of not knowing something.

pleaded ignorance

Indicates an attempt to excuse oneself by claiming a lack of knowledge.

simulated incomprehension

Highlights the artificial nature of the claimed lack of understanding.

assumed a pose of unknowing

Suggests a consciously adopted facade of ignorance.

dissembled knowledge

Highlights the concealment of true knowledge.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "pretended ignorance"?

You can use alternatives like "feigned ignorance", "played dumb", or "acted oblivious" depending on the context.

Is "pretended ignorance" a formal or informal phrase?

"Pretended ignorance" is generally considered a neutral to slightly formal phrase. More informal options include "played dumb".

What is the difference between "pretended ignorance" and willful ignorance?

"Pretended ignorance" refers to deliberately feigning a lack of knowledge, whereas willful ignorance involves intentionally avoiding information to remain uninformed.

How to use "pretended ignorance" in a sentence?

Example: "Despite knowing the truth, he pretended ignorance to avoid taking responsibility."