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

They selected him at third overall in the 2018 draft, and Darnold not only arrived in a dysfunctional organization, he was also abnormally young on draft day at just 20 years old.

From The Wall Street Journal

In both cases, cartilage that had become thin and dysfunctional with age thickened across the joint surface.

From Science Daily

Tamma is trying to find the emotional stillness to deal with a dysfunctional family that makes plenty of demands but offers little support.

From Los Angeles Times

But for now, no matter how dysfunctional this all appears, it is business as usual at Selhurst Park.

From BBC

A report by the cross-party government spending watchdog said the "dysfunctional" care system was "not working", with 800 vulnerable children placed in illegal settings for an average of six months each last year.

From BBC

Related Words

• flawed