malformed
Americanadjective
Etymology
Origin of malformed
First recorded in 1810–20; mal- + formed ( def. )
Explanation
Something malformed has a shape that's twisted or warped, or otherwise distorted. Your first try at making pottery might result in a couple of malformed bowls. If you leave a doll in the hot sunlight for hours, she may melt and become malformed. Sometimes parts of the body are malformed because of birth defects or accidents. If you're born with a malformed spine, you may wear a brace to straighten it out. If your feet are malformed, your choice of shoes will be limited. Malformed combines the prefix mal-, "badly or wrongly," with formed, from the Latin forma, "shape or appearance."
Vocabulary lists containing malformed
Shape Up: Form
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Florida's B.E.S.T. Roots: mal
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Florida's B.E.S.T. Roots: form
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
As he moves deeper and finds scattered, malformed remnants of his past inside the chartreuse oblivion, Clark makes a Faustian pact with whatever entities are inside the Backrooms.
From Salon ● May 30, 2026
Eurex, part of Germany’s Deutsche Börse, said it enforces its rules and has tools to detect malformed data.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 16, 2025
The condition develops early in pregnancy when a malformed foetus is absorbed by the host twin.
From BBC ● Sep. 4, 2025
It’s not fluent, it’s broken, the sounds are malformed, if you like.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 27, 2024
It was a high, thin, broken moan, and it seemed to come less from an adult than from either a tragic, subnormal infant or a small malformed animal.
From "Nine Stories" by J. D. Salinger
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.
