malinger
C2Formal
Definition
Meaning
To pretend to be ill, especially to avoid work or duty.
To exaggerate or prolong illness or infirmity for secondary gain, such as avoiding responsibility, receiving sympathy, or obtaining financial compensation.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term implies conscious deception and a deliberate shirking of responsibilities. It is typically used about someone whose supposed illness is met with suspicion by an authority figure (e.g., employer, military officer, doctor). It carries a strong negative moral judgment.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in definition or usage. The word is used in both varieties.
Connotations
Equally pejorative in both dialects, associated with laziness and deceit.
Frequency
Slightly more common in British English, particularly in historical or institutional contexts (e.g., military, civil service), but remains a low-frequency word in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] malingers[Subject] is malingering[Subject] was accused of malingeringVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “swing the lead (UK, synonymous informal idiom)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used by managers suspecting an employee of faking sickness to extend leave or avoid a difficult task.
Academic
Used in psychology, medicine, and occupational health literature to describe a specific behavior of illness deception.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation; used humorously or accusingly among friends/family about avoiding chores.
Technical
A clinical term in psychiatry and forensic medicine; distinct from factitious disorder or conversion disorder, as the motivation in malingering is external (e.g., money, avoiding duty).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The soldier was suspected of trying to malinger to get out of the exercise.
- He's not genuinely poorly; he's just malingering again.
American English
- Several employees were found to be malingering after the long weekend.
- The insurer hired a detective to see if the claimant was malingering.
adverb
British English
- He acted malingeringly, but the nurse saw through it.
adjective
British English
- The malingering prisoner was returned to his duties.
- His malingering behaviour was noted in his file.
American English
- The doctor identified malingering patients through inconsistent symptoms.
- A malingering attitude is not tolerated in this unit.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He didn't want to go to school, so he malingered.
- Is she really sick or is she malingering?
- The manager warned the team that anyone found malingering would face disciplinary action.
- Psychological tests can sometimes help detect if someone is malingering depression.
- The tribunal concluded that the claimant had been malingering for months to fraudulently obtain benefits.
- In forensic settings, distinguishing between genuine PTSD and malingering is a complex clinical challenge.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: A LINGERing illness that's MALicious (MAL + LINGER). You MALiciously LINGER in bed to avoid work.
Conceptual Metaphor
ILLNESS IS A SHIELD (used to protect oneself from unwanted responsibilities).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with "симулировать" (to simulate) which is broader. "Malinger" is specifically about avoiding work/duty, not simulating for other gains like in sports.
- Not equivalent to "притворяться больным," which is a direct translation but lacks the specific institutional/avoidance context of "malinger."
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a transitive verb (e.g., 'He malingered an illness' is less standard; prefer 'He feigned an illness' or 'He was malingering.').
- Confusing it with 'linger,' which simply means to stay somewhere without the deceptive intent.
- Misspelling as 'malingerer' when using the verb form (a 'malingerer' is the noun for the person who malingers).
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following scenarios is the term 'malinger' most accurately used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The noun is 'malingerer' (a person who malingers). The activity itself is called 'malingering.'
No, it is a low-frequency, formal word. More common in specific professional contexts (medical, military, occupational) than in everyday conversation.
They are synonyms, but 'malinger' is more specific. It always implies the deception is to avoid work or duty. You can 'feign illness' for other reasons (e.g., to get attention), but you 'malinger' specifically to escape responsibility.
No, it can refer to faking or exaggerating any type of illness or infirmity, including mental or psychological conditions (e.g., malingering PTSD to obtain compensation).