malingerer

American  

[muh-ling-ger-er] / məˈlɪŋ gər ər /

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."

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Etymology

Origin of malingerer

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

Explanation

Have you ever pretended to be sick or hurt to get out of taking a test or doing a chore? Then you, my dear, are a malingerer, and should be ashamed of yourself. Shape up! Knowing that the prefix mal is from the Latin for “bad,” we can tell right off that being a malingerer is not a good thing. This noun form of the verb malinger comes from the French malingre which means “sickly.” (Obviously, it’s bad to pretend to be sick.) In Jack London’s Call of the Wild, the new dog, Pike, is referred to as “a clever malingerer and thief,” giving a clear negative context to the word.

Example Sentences

“Ye’s lawyers called him a liar, a fraud, and a malingerer in court. His medical records, bank records, and personal family history were dissected, mocked, and vilified,” said attorney Ronald Zambrano in a statement.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 11, 2026

Gudetama is a genderless, cartoon egg with a sad face and a shiny yellow butt; a burnout, a slacker, a malingerer, crushed under the weight of their own melancholy.

From New York Times • Dec. 7, 2022

It’s possible your soon-to-be brother-in-law isn’t a malingerer or a manipulator but in genuine distress and without a useful diagnosis.

From Slate • May 24, 2016

The Wizards’ woes without Nene have upset fans who believe that he is unreliable or even worse, a malingerer.

From Washington Post • Dec. 19, 2013

I should at least make the effort and I reasoned I could best do this by playing the malingerer and appearing mentally incompetent.

From City of Endless Night by Hastings, Milo M. (Milo Milton)