dysfunctional

American  

[dis-fuhngk-shuh-nl] / dɪsˈfʌŋk ʃə 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.

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dysfunctional British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• dysfunctionally adverb

Etymology

Origin of dysfunctional

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

Example Sentences

That said, Germany’s old-age benefits system isn’t obviously more dysfunctional than its neighbors’.

From The Wall Street Journal

As a result, you are understandably struggling with emotional enmeshment, a dysfunctional relationship dynamic where boundaries are blurred, pressure is applied to participate in the emotions, anxieties and responsibilities of another person.

From MarketWatch

Nagi says many of the children come from dysfunctional families and her teachers often have to double-up as their counsellors and protectors.

From BBC

We made this film about a terribly dysfunctional family, but we are actually quite functional!

From Los Angeles Times

Brazilian director Karim Ainouz's surreal satire "Rosebush Pruning" premiered on Saturday at the Berlin Film Festival with one of the programme's starriest casts portraying an outrageously spoiled and dysfunctional family descending into chaos.

From Barron's

Related Words

• flawed