dysfunctional

[dis-fuhngk-shuh-nl]

adjective

1. not performing normally, as an organ or structure of the body; malfunctioning.

2. having a malfunctioning part or element.

   It is hard to get bills through a dysfunctional congress.

3. behaving or acting outside social norms.

   All the siblings in their extremely dysfunctional family lost contact as adults.

dysfunctional

/ dɪsˈfʌŋkʃənəl /

adjective

1. med (of an organ or part) not functioning normally

2. (esp of a family) characterized by a breakdown of normal or beneficial relationships between members of the group

Other Word Forms

• dysfunctionally adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of dysfunctional¹

First recorded in 1910–15; dysfunction ( def. ) + -al ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

Despite our public persona of being dysfunctional and brawling, we were quite quiet in the rehearsal space.

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This concluded she had a pattern of entering "dysfunctional relationships" and was unfit to parent.

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In his evidence to the inquiry, Mr Cummings described a "dysfunctional" government and was very critical of Johnson's approach.

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The painting of the dysfunctional family in front of me begins to move—pointing and laughing at me.

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In Eisman’s view, the unwillingness of the U.S. government to allow the bankers to fail was less a solution than a symptom of a still deeply dysfunctional financial system.

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Related Words

• flawed