dysfunction

American  

[dis-fuhngk-shuhn] / dɪsˈfʌŋk ʃən /

noun

dysfunctions plural

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 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

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• dysfunctional
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• dysfunctions
  plural

Etymology

Origin of dysfunction

First recorded in 1915–20; dys- + function

Explanation

If there's dysfunction, then things aren't working right. High blood pressure is a medical dysfunction, and fighting amongst teammates is a kind of social dysfunction. If you know that function means to work, then you shouldn't be surprised that dysfunction means something isn't working. Blind people have an optical dysfunction. A family that yells all the time and never listens has a communication dysfunction. If your car breaks down, it has some kind of mechanical dysfunction. But if everything is going smoothly? You're dysfunction-free.

Example Sentences

They say it has a long history of dysfunction and substandard conditions that won’t improve under employees with little prior zookeeping experience or clear plan to pay for the animals’ care.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 2, 2026

The dysfunction, he said, is particularly clear on housing.

From Los Angeles Times • May 31, 2026

As those systems weaken, broader aging-related dysfunction can follow.

From Science Daily • May 29, 2026

The job proved too much for Thomas Frank, who found the expectations and dysfunction of Tottenham a sharp contrast to the stability of Brentford.

From BBC • May 25, 2026

Pulling back each of Fig’s ears and peeking inside, Dr. Spires babbled on about chemical waste and blood and dysfunction.

From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas