malingerer

[ muh-ling-ger-er ]

noun

1. a person who pretends to be sick, especially in order to avoid work or shirk responsibilities:

   Don’t reinforce the misguided perception that injured workers are just malingerers looking for a "paid vacation."

Word History and Origins

Origin of malingerer¹

First recorded in 1755–65; from French malingre “sickly,” of uncertain origin (perhaps from mal “badly” + obsolete haingre, heingre “lean, skinny”) + -er ¹( def )