Definition

Noun: A person who deliberately pretends to be ill or incapacitated in order to avoid work, duty, or responsibility.

Usage

The word "malingerer" is used to describe an individual who is shirking an obligation through deception. It carries a strong negative connotation, implying laziness, dishonesty, and a lack of integrity. It is most commonly used in contexts involving work, military service, or school.

Examples

• The sergeant suspected the soldier was a malingerer trying to avoid the difficult training exercise.
• Several malingerers in the office called in sick on the day of the important deadline.
• It is difficult for teachers to identify genuine illness from the excuses of a malingerer.

Advanced Usage

• Legal/Medical Context: In occupational health and insurance claims, professionals may assess whether a claimant is a malingerer versus someone with a legitimate, hard-to-diagnose condition.
• Historical Usage: The concept and term have been particularly significant in military history, where feigning illness to avoid service or combat has long been a concern.

Variants and Related Words

• Malinger (verb): To pretend to be ill, especially to avoid duty or work.
  • He was accused of trying to malinger to get out of the night shift.
• Malingering (noun): The act or instance of feigning illness.
  • The doctor was alert to the possibility of malingering.

Synonyms

• Shirker: A person who avoids work or duty.
• Slacker: A person who avoids work or effort.
• Goldbrick (informal): A person who shirks assigned work.
• Dodger: A person who evades something, especially a duty.

Antonyms

• Diligent worker
• Conscientious person
• Stalwart

Idioms and Phrases

• To cry wolf: To raise a false alarm. While not identical, a malingerer often "cries wolf" with fake illnesses, which can lead to not being believed when truly ill.
  • By being a known malingerer, he risked the day he would truly be sick and no one would believe him—he had cried wolf too often.

Noun

1. someone shirking their duty by feigning illness or incapacity