dysfunction

[dis-fuhngk-shuhn]

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.

dysfunction

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• dysfunctional adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dysfunction¹

First recorded in 1915–20; dys- + function

Example Sentences

The latter was first staged in 2017 and has returned this year, once again a tale of family dysfunction set in a historic mansion.

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If you’re human and have a scintilla of emotional and social intelligence, then you know that psychological and emotional suffering are serious and lead to real-world personal and social dysfunction.

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With a daily population of 14,000 inmates or more, it was the nation’s largest jail system, and had been known for years as a cauldron of violence and dysfunction.

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These incidents demonstrate that violence is not confined to one political ideology but reflects broader societal dysfunction.

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She has these smart, compassionate ways to make tasks that feel exhausting — or impossible, if you have any form of executive dysfunction — suddenly seem, if not simple, doable.

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