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

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

Sign up for Slate’s newest newsletter, Executive Dysfunction!

From Slate • Mar. 7, 2026

Dysfunction of these systems makes it difficult to know what's real, manifesting as hallucinations and delusions.

From Science Daily • Apr. 11, 2024

Dysfunction in amyloid, it seems, is linked to impaired action of blood vessels and their linings, to inflammation and to oxidative stress.

From Salon • Sep. 30, 2023

Dysfunction in the adrenal gland or thyroid, for example, may be controlled by medicine once a day, says Douglas Johnson, a melanoma oncologist at Vanderbilt University.

From Science Magazine • Aug. 30, 2022

Dysfunction and division are not limited to developing nations.

From Washington Post • Jul. 7, 2020