functional

American  

[fuhngk-shuh-nl] / ˈfʌŋk ʃə nl /

adjective

1. of or relating to a function or functions.

   functional difficulties in the administration.

2. capable of operating or functioning.

   When will the ventilating system be functional again?

3. 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.

4. Also functionalistic (of a building or furnishing) constructed or made according to the principles of functionalism or primarily as a direct fulfillment of a material need.

5. Medicine/Medical. without a known organic cause or structural change.

   a functional disorder.

6. pertaining to an algebraic operation.

   a functional symbol.

7. 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

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

functional British  

/ ˈfʌŋkʃənəl /

adjective

1. of, involving, or containing a function or functions

2. practical rather than decorative; utilitarian

   functional architecture

3. capable of functioning; working

4. med affecting a function of an organ without structural change

5. psychol

   1. relating to the purpose or context of a behaviour

   2. denoting a psychosis such as schizophrenia assumed not to have a direct organic cause, like deterioration or poisoning of the brain Compare organic psychosis

---

noun

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

Other Word Forms

• functionality noun
• functionally adverb
• hyperfunctional adjective
• hyperfunctionally adverb
• multifunctional adjective
• nonfunctional adjective
• nonfunctionally adverb
• prefunctional adjective
• semifunctional adjective
• semifunctionally adverb
• subfunctional adjective
• subfunctionally adverb
• superfunctional adjective
• unfunctional adjective
• unfunctionally adverb

Etymology

Origin of functional

First recorded in 1625–35; function + -al ¹

Explanation

Use the adjective functional to describe something that is made to do a specific job, such as the functional alarm clock feature on a digital stopwatch. The word functional comes from the Latin word functionem, meaning "performance, execution." It can also describe whether something is working properly. This is what shoppers at a garage sale want to be sure of before they leave with an old television — they plug it in to make sure it's functional. In this case the opposite of functional is useless.

Example Sentences

Intel’s manufacturing yields—the ratio of functional chips to the maximum possible—in its newest chip-making process are too low.

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

The meetings typically take place in a bland but functional meeting room at the union headquarters building in Koreatown.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

The findings also point to new opportunities for developing functional foods, dietary supplements, seasonings, or even fragrances that deliver stronger benefits using smaller amounts of active ingredients.

From Science Daily • Apr. 9, 2026

A meetinghouse stood at the center of every village created by the Shakers, the separatist and celibate Christian religious sect founded in the 18th century that was devoted to communal living and simple, functional design.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

Finally, when I have survived the worst, opening my eyes underwater, sniffing water into my sinuses and snorting it out, and even gargling repeatedly to wash out my throat, I’m functional enough to help Finnick.

From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins

Related Words

• practical
• useful
• utilitarian