malingering
malingering Lexical Profile
malingering Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The act or practice of intentionally feigning or exaggerating physical or psychological illness in order to avoid work, duty, or legal responsibility, or to obtain financial gain.
"Forensic psychologists use specialized diagnostic assessments to detect malingering in disability claims."
• adjective
Pretending to be ill or incapacitated in order to escape duty, work, or responsibility.
"The supervisor grew frustrated with the malingering employee who conveniently fell ill before every major deadline."
Word Nuance & Usage
In clinical and legal contexts, 'malingering' is strictly distinguished from factitious disorder (Munchausen syndrome): malingering involves consciously faking symptoms for external incentives (such as financial compensation, avoiding work, or evading criminal responsibility), whereas factitious disorder is driven by an internal psychological need to assume the sick role.
• Rhymes for malingering
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the verb 'malinger', which entered English in the early 19th century from French 'malingre' (meaning 'sickly' or 'ailing'), a blend of 'mal-' (badly) and Old French 'heingre' (haggard, thin).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.