malinger

[ muh-ling-ger ]

verb (used without object)

1. to pretend illness, especially in order to shirk one's duty, avoid work, etc.

malinger

/ məˈlɪŋɡə /

verb

1. intr to pretend or exaggerate illness, esp to avoid work

Derived Forms

• maˈlingerer, noun

Other Words From

• ma·lin·ger·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of malinger¹

First recorded in 1810–20; from French malingre “sickly, ailing,” equivalent to mal- “bad, ill” + Old French heingre “haggard” (perhaps from Germanic ); mal-

Word History and Origins

Origin of malinger¹

C19: from French malingre sickly, perhaps from mal badly + Old French haingre feeble

Example Sentences

The experts spent hours with Girardi, interviewing him and conducting tests that can identify mental deficits and in some cases malingering, feigning or exaggerating illness.

From Los Angeles Times

Detecting that someone is malingering is not an exact science.

From Scientific American

Goldstein, who did not return a message seeking comment, practices in Chicago and has lectured on the topic of malingering, according to a resume posted online.

From Los Angeles Times

Department of Behavioral Health, wrote in a report that she believed Trotman was “malingering” his mental illness, when he was actually well enough to understand the legal proceedings in his case, a prosecutor asserted.

From Washington Post

That led to a suggestion of malingering from an unlikely source, the State Bar of California.

From Los Angeles Times