Malinger
/məˈlɪŋɡər/
verbC2
Definition
Malinger means when a person acts like they are ill or hurt, but they are not really sick. They do this to avoid doing something, usually work or responsibilities. It is a way of faking illness to get out of duties.
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See It in Action
Pretending to be sick or injured to avoid work or duty
- •He malingered to skip his shift at the factory.
- •Soldiers sometimes malinger to avoid dangerous missions.
- •The employee was caught malingering and was disciplined.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "malinger" like "pretend sick," but with a negative meaning because the person is not honest.
- ✓Picture someone lying in bed looking tired but actually feeling fine, trying to avoid going to work or school.
- ✓It's the feeling you get when you see someone faking to skip something important.
- ✓Sounds like "mail-linger" → imagine someone sending a fake letter that keeps "lingering" to avoid work.
- ✓In stories or movies, a character might malinger to avoid a difficult task or punishment.
- ✓NOT like "rest" (which is real and healthy), malinger is faking rest or illness.
- ✓NOT like "take a break" (which is honest), malinger is dishonest pretending.
- ✓NOT like "lazy" (no action), malinger involves pretending to be sick to avoid work.
Try Other Words
- •Shirk: avoid work or duty (Use when the focus is on avoiding responsibility, not necessarily by faking illness)
- •Fake illness: pretend to be sick (Use when you want to be very clear and simple)
- •Avoid work: stay away from work (Use in general cases without the idea of pretending)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "mal-" (bad, wrong) + "linger" (to stay longer) → literally means "to stay bad" or "to stay longer wrongly"
- •Etymology: From French "malingre" meaning sickly or weak, from Latin "male" (badly) + "ingravescere" (to grow heavy)
- •Historical development: Originally described weak or sick people; later used for pretending to be sick to avoid work
- •Modern usage: Used to describe people who fake illness to avoid duties, often with a negative or critical tone
Reflect & Connect
•Why do you think some people choose to malinger instead of facing their responsibilities?
•How can you tell the difference between someone who is truly sick and someone who is malingering?
Fill in the blanks
1.When workers malinger, they usually ___ work or important tasks they do not want to do.
2.A person who malingers often pretends to feel ___ even if they are healthy.
3.Unlike someone who is genuinely sick, a malingerer’s illness is ___.
4.To malinger means to avoid work by ___ sick or injured.
5.People who malinger might be seen as ___ by their coworkers or friends.
6.If someone malingers, they might ___ punishment or difficult jobs.
7.A doctor tries to find out if a patient is really sick or just ___ to avoid work.