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Synonyms

malfunction

American  
[mal-fuhngk-shuhn] / mælˈfʌŋk ʃən /

noun

  1. failure to function properly.

    a malfunction of the liver; the malfunction of a rocket.

verb (used without object)

  1. to fail to function properly.

malfunction British  
/ mælˈfʌŋkʃən /

verb

  1. (intr) to function imperfectly or irregularly or fail to function

"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

noun

  1. failure to function or defective functioning

"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

Etymology

Origin of malfunction

First recorded in 1925–30; mal- + function

Explanation

To malfunction is to fail to work properly. If your toaster spits out a charred, smoky mess no matter what setting it’s on, your toaster is definitely malfunctioning. When something functions, it works. Adding the prefix -mal (meaning "bad") to function indicates bad or unsuccessful functioning. When a computer malfunctions, you could lose your data. A malfunctioning car could cause an accident or leave you stranded. This word is typically used in reference to technology, tools, and gadgets. However, if you make a stupid mistake, you might joke that your brain has malfunctioned.

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Vocabulary lists containing malfunction

"A Sound of Thunder" by Ray Bradbury

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A Thousand Splendid Suns

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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.

Like James Gandolfini in “Loop,” or Daniel Kaluuya in “Get Out,” or Eddie Albert in “Green Acres,” Mr. Bonneville is playing the only bona-fide sane adult in a crowd beset by mental malfunction, i.e, agendas.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

Jet fuel is a complex product because of its transportation, segregation and storage requirements, and the dire consequences of a potential airplane-engine malfunction.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 28, 2026

Local police said initial findings suggested a "system malfunction" caused multiple vehicles to stop in the middle of the road on Tuesday.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

A string of self-driving robotaxis owned by Chinese internet giant Baidu stalled in central China, stranding passengers after an apparent "system malfunction", police said Wednesday.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

Maybe with its malfunction, I’m missing out on some sort of programmed routine.

From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera

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.