dysfunction

American  

[dis-fuhngk-shuhn] / dɪsˈfʌŋk ʃən /

noun

1. Medicine/Medical. malfunctioning, as of an organ or structure of the body.

2. any malfunctioning part or element.

   the dysfunctions of the country's economy.

3. Sociology. a consequence of a social practice or behavior pattern that undermines the stability of a social system.

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dysfunction British  

/ dɪsˈfʌŋkʃən /

noun

1. med any disturbance or abnormality in the function of an organ or part

2. (esp of a family) failure to show the characteristics or fulfil the purposes accepted as normal or beneficial

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Other Word Forms

• dysfunctional adjective

Etymology

Origin of dysfunction

First recorded in 1915–20; dys- + function

Example Sentences

"It's not laziness, it's the executive dysfunction that makes it difficult... People have trouble focusing their attention and keeping it sustained long enough to complete these tasks," she said.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

In adults, research has found links between dysfunction in the gut microbiome and a host of health problems, including Type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart disease, autoimmune disorders and some cancers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 3, 2026

We’re thrilled to be in your feeds and will be back with more dysfunction analysis next week.

From Slate • Feb. 19, 2026

A key focus was how this protein interacts with stem cells affected by telomere dysfunction.

From Science Daily • Feb. 12, 2026

For her, tanning had moved from an intense hobby to something more closely resembling a psychological dysfunction.

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris