What does malingering mean?
Malingering is the intentional pretense of illness, injury, or incapacity in order to avoid responsibilities or gain an advantage. The word is especially common in medical, workplace, military, and legal discussions, where someone’s symptoms or absences may be questioned. Unlike ordinary illness, malingering involves deception: a person deliberately presents themselves as unable to meet an obligation such as working, serving in the armed forces, or undertaking a task. The related verb is “malinger,” and a person who engages in this behavior is a “malingerer.” Although malingering can involve exaggerating real symptoms, its central meaning is the making of a false claim rather than merely seeking attention or expressing concern about illness. The word carries a strongly critical and sometimes legal connotation, so it is best used when there is credible evidence of intentional deception.
nounThe practice of pretending to have an illness or injury in order to avoid work, military service, or another obligation. It can also refer more generally to deliberately exaggerating symptoms for a similar purpose.
- The deliberate pretense of illness, injury, or incapacity to avoid an obligation or obtain an advantage.
- The behavior of a person who is suspected of making a false or exaggerated claim of illness.
"The employee was accused of malingering after repeatedly claiming illness while refusing to attend work."
"The doctor concluded that the athlete was malingering rather than suffering from a genuine injury."
"The report cited repeated absences and inconsistent symptoms as evidence of malingering."
Malingering turns the language of illness into an alibi: the sick day is part of the strategy.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of malingering
The word comes through French malingrer, meaning “to pretend illness” or “to feign sickness,” from the older French malingre, associated with being sickly or unwell. Its vocabulary belongs to the French mal- family of words connected with badness or illness. English cognates include malign, malignant, and malefic.
Related word forms
How malingering is actually used
The term is commonly used in medical, workplace, military, and legal contexts. It implies intentional deception, so it should not be applied to someone who is sincerely unwell or whose symptoms are difficult to assess.