faint, feint

The words faint, feint sound the same but have different meanings and spellings. Why do faint, feint sound the same even though they are completely different words?

The answer is simple: faint, feint are homophones of the English language.

faint
  1. :: adjective

    Lacking strength or vigor; feeble.

  2. :: adjective

    Lacking conviction, boldness, or courage; timid.

  3. :: adjective

    Lacking brightness: a faint light in the gloom.

  4. :: adjective

    Lacking clarity or distinctness: a faint recollection.

feint
  1. :: noun

    A feigned attack designed to draw defensive action away from an intended target.

  2. :: noun

    A deceptive action calculated to divert attention from one's real purpose. See Synonyms at wile.

  3. :: verb-intransitive

    To make a feint.

  4. :: verb-transitive

    To deceive with a feint.

Definitions from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition and Wordnik.

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About Homophones

Homophones (literally "same sound") are usually defined as words that share the same pronunciation, regardless of how they are spelled.

If they are spelled the same then they are also homographs (and homonyms); if they are spelled differently then they are also heterographs (literally "different writing").