Münchausen syndrome

noun

A factitious (artificial) mental disorder in which a person feigns illness or psychological trauma in order to garner attention or sympathy.

Similar
factitious disorderfactitious disorder imposed on self
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Meanings

nounMünchausen syndrome (countable and uncountable, plural Münchausen syndromes)

plural Münchausen syndromes · alternative Munchausen syndrome · alternative Münchhausen syndrome · alternative Munchhausen syndrome · alternative Munchausen's syndrome

  1. countableuncountableA factitious (artificial) mental disorder in which a person feigns illness or psychological trauma in order to garner attention or sympathy.

    Synonyms: factitious disorder, factitious disorder imposed on self

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA factitious (artificial) mental disorder in which a person feigns illness or psychological trauma in order to garner attention or sympathy.

Similar
factitious disorderfactitious disorder imposed on self

Origin

From the German name Münchhausen, after the fantastical tales related by the fictional Baron Munchausen (sic) in Rudolf Erich Raspe's English-language novel Baron Munchausen's Narrative of His Marvellous Travels and Campaigns in Russia (1785). The character was loosely based on Baron Hieronymus Karl Friedrich von Münchhausen (1720–1797).

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 孟喬森綜合症 /孟乔森综合症, 求醫癖 /求医癖
  • 孟喬森綜合症 /孟乔森综合症 (Mèngqiáosēn zònghézhèng)psychiatric disorder
  • 求醫癖 /求医癖 (qiúyīpǐ)psychiatric disorder
French syndrome de Münchhausen
  • syndrome de Münchhausenpsychiatric disorder
German Münchhausen-Syndrom
  • Münchhausen-Syndrompsychiatric disorder
Hungarian Münchhausen-szindróma
  • Münchhausen-szindrómapsychiatric disorder
Japanese ミュンヒハウゼン症候群
  • ミュンヒハウゼン症候群 (Myunhauzen shōkōgun)psychiatric disorder
Polish zespół Münchhausena
  • zespół Münchhausenapsychiatric disorder
Russian синдро́м Мюнхга́узена
  • синдро́м Мюнхга́узена (sindróm Mjunxáuzɛna)psychiatric disorder
Cite this entry
APA

Münchausen syndrome. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/M%C3%BCnchausen%20syndrome

MLA

“Münchausen syndrome.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/M%C3%BCnchausen%20syndrome. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Münchausen syndrome,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/M%C3%BCnchausen%20syndrome.

Source: Münchausen syndrome on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.