dysfunctional
Americanadjective
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not performing normally, as an organ or structure of the body; malfunctioning.
-
having a malfunctioning part or element.
It is hard to get bills through a dysfunctional congress.
-
behaving or acting outside social norms.
All the siblings in their extremely dysfunctional family lost contact as adults.
adjective
-
med (of an organ or part) not functioning normally
-
(esp of a family) characterized by a breakdown of normal or beneficial relationships between members of the group
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of dysfunctional
First recorded in 1910–15; dysfunction ( def. ) + -al 1 ( def. )
Explanation
Dysfunctional describes something that doesn't work the way it should. If you know all the printers at the school computer lab are dysfunctional, it's better to print your book report at home. Dys- means "bad," and function means "proper purpose," so when something's working badly, it's dysfunctional. For example, your toaster that always burns the toast is dysfunctional. The word dysfunctional is often used to describe relationships or even whole families whose ways of relating to one another are mentally harmful or are so complicated that nothing feels easy or natural about them.
Vocabulary lists containing dysfunctional
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Dysfunctional family relationships and minor disputes are getting in the way.
From MarketWatch • Dec. 4, 2025
Dysfunctional breathing is often seen in asthma patients, but it can develop for many different reasons.
From Science Daily • Nov. 10, 2025
The seminar is entitled “Recovering From Dysfunctional Families,” the cost is $39 and the teacher is Patti Davis, daughter of Ronald and Nancy Reagan.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 9, 2023
Dysfunctional working between and within groups was "fundamental to the sub-optimal care provided in both hospitals".
From BBC • Oct. 20, 2022
Why I picked it: Dysfunctional family, police involvement, bird’s-eye view of an unfamiliar city, erosion of lines between work and personal lives: These are a few of my favorite things.
From New York Times • Jan. 7, 2020
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
