Munchausen syndrome by proxy

noun

variants or less commonly Munchausen's syndrome by proxy
: a psychological disorder in which a caregiver and especially a parent induces the symptoms of a disease or injury in their child, falsifies the child's medical history, or tampers with the child's diagnostic specimens in order to create a situation that typically requires medical attention : factitious disorder imposed on another

Word History

First Known Use

1977, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Munchausen syndrome by proxy was in 1977

Dictionary Entries Near Munchausen syndrome by proxy

Cite this Entry

“Munchausen syndrome by proxy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Munchausen%20syndrome%20by%20proxy. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

Munchausen syndrome by proxy

noun
variants also Munchausen's syndrome by proxy
-bī-ˈpräk-sē
: a psychological disorder in which a caregiver and especially a parent induces the symptoms of disease or illness in their child, falsifies the child's medical history, or tampers with the child's diagnostic specimens in order to create a situation that typically requires medical attention : factitious disorder imposed on another
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