MALINGERER Definition & Meaning

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malingerer

[ muh-ling-ger-er ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

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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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of malingerer¹

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

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Republicans consistently slander disability recipients as malingerers and layabouts.

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That’s because welfare programs are easiest to axe when conservatives go hunting for budget cuts — Americans typically view them as serving layabouts and malingerers at their expense.

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It’s starting to make me feel like I’m a malingerer.

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These patients are often dismissed as malingerers or as suffering from a psychosomatic condition—and so it still is with long COVID.

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Experts have said Army culture breeds the belief that missing soldiers are malingerers or cowards, which makes finding them a low priority.

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