Standard Lemma guide

pseudopatient

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˌs(j)uːdəʊˈpeɪʃ(ə)nt/
  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈs(j)uːdəʊˌpeɪʃ(ə)nt/
  • General-American: /ˌsudoʊˈpeɪʃ(ə)nt/
  • General-American: /ˈsudoʊˌpeɪʃ(ə)nt/
  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A person who pretends to be ill, especially to gain some benefit.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: dated

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: malingerer

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A person who poses as a patient so that research may be conducted or staff trained.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: medicine, sciences

Examples

  • Most of the pseudopatients were falsely diagnosed with mental disorders.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From pseudo- + patient.

Across languages

Translations

2 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 假病人 (Jiǎ bìngrén) — person who pretends to be ill, especially to gain some benefit — see also malingerer
  • Chinese Mandarin: 假病人 (Jiǎ bìngrén) — person who poses as a patient for research or staff training