Words / C2

m-uh-LING-uh/məˈlɪŋɡə/

To malinger is to fake illness to avoid work (formal): accused of malingering, malinger at home. Skive is informal British; shirk is avoid duty more widely. Malingering is the noun. Linger is stay — a lookalike. Do not accuse a documented illness of malingering.

Meaning

To pretend to be ill in order to avoid work (formal).

Examples

• “He was malingering; the badge log showed a lunchtime match, not a clinic.”
• “The badge log suggested malingering: a lunchtime match, not a clinic.”
• “Skive is everyday BrE; malinger is the formal “fake sick”. Linger is remain. HR needs evidence, not a vibe.”

Good to know

Fake illness to dodge work (formal). Informal BrE: skive. Wider: shirk. Noun: malingering. Mix-up: linger. Do not weaponise it.

Near in meaning

skive

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