functional

[fuhngk-shuh-nl]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR functional ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

of or relating to a function or functions: functional difficulties in the administration.

capable of operating or functioning: When will the ventilating system be functional again?

having or serving a utilitarian purpose; capable of serving the purpose for which it was designed: functional architecture; a chair that is functional as well as decorative.

Also func·tion·al·is·tic. (of a building or furnishing) constructed or made according to the principles of functionalism or primarily as a direct fulfillment of a material need.

Medicine/Medical. without a known organic cause or structural change: a functional disorder.Compare organic(def 5).

pertaining to an algebraic operation: a functional symbol.

Linguistics. (of linguistic analysis, language teaching, etc.) concerned with the communicative role of language rather than, in addition to, or as the framework for its formal structure.

noun

Mathematics. a function that has a domain whose elements are functions, sets, or the like, and that assumes numerical values.

Nearby words

Origin of functional

First recorded in 1625–35; function + -al¹

Related forms

func·tion·al·i·ty, nounfunc·tion·al·ly, adverbhy·per·func·tion·al, adjectivehy·per·func·tion·al·ly, adverb

mul·ti·func·tion·al, adjectivenon·func·tion·al, adjectivenon·func·tion·al·ly, adverbpre·func·tion·al, adjectivesem·i·func·tion·al, adjectivesem·i·func·tion·al·ly, adverbsub·func·tion·al, adjectivesub·func·tion·al·ly, adverbsu·per·func·tion·al, adjectiveun·func·tion·al, adjectiveun·func·tion·al·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for functional

Essentially he is arguing that there are functional trade-offs in developmental biology.
Why Aristotle Deserves A Posthumous Nobel|Nick Romeo|October 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It can lead to all types of cosmetic and functional issues down the road which are difficult if not impossible to reverse.
Beware the Designer Vagina|Lizzie Crocker|July 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The captain tried to say all the cameras were functional except for the one in the cabin where the body was found.
The Black Widow of Silicon Valley|Michael Daly|July 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
To be sure, Functional Medicine or related fields like Lifestyle Medicine may not have all the answers.
Clinton Doc: This Is How We’ll Fix Health Care|Daniela Drake|June 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Mark Hyman, MD, best-selling author, and current chair of the Institute of Functional Medicine, sees it as anything but quackery.
Clinton Doc: This Is How We’ll Fix Health Care|Daniela Drake|June 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Functional and structural troubles of the stomach are certainly very intimately associated.
A System of Practical Medicine By American Authors, Vol. II|Various
Subsequent changes have not improved upon the functional design of this classic suit.
Women's Bathing and Swimming Costume in the United States|Claudia B. Kidwell
Occasionally the first sound is replaced by a functional murmur.
A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I|Various
Functional diseases are no more imaginary than an ungovernable temper or a balky horse is imaginary.
McClure's Magazine, Vol. XXXI, No. 4, August 1908|Various
Such a muscular folding in the mantle would be technically called a functional siphon.
The Sea-beach at Ebb-tide|Augusta Foote Arnold

British Dictionary definitions for functional

functional

adjective

of, involving, or containing a function or functions

practical rather than decorative; utilitarianfunctional architecture

capable of functioning; working

med affecting a function of an organ without structural change

psychol

relating to the purpose or context of a behaviour
denoting a psychosis such as schizophrenia assumed not to have a direct organic cause, like deterioration or poisoning of the brainCompare organic psychosis

noun

maths a function whose domain is a set of functions and whose range is a set of functions or a set of numbers

Derived Formsfunctionally, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for functional

functional

adj.

1630s; as a term in architecture, "utilitarian," 1928; see function (n.) + -al (1). Related: Functionally; functionality.

Medicine definitions for functional

functional

[fŭngk′shə-nəl]

adj.

Of or relating to a function.

Affecting the physiological function but not the structure.

Science definitions for functional

functional

[fŭngk′shə-nəl]

Affecting bodily functions but not organic structure, as a disorder such as irritable bowel syndrome. Compare organic.

functional

adjective

noun

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Nearby words

Origin of functional

Examples from the Web for functional

functional

adjective

noun

functional

functional

adj.

functional