malfunction

[mal-fuhngk-shuhn]

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

/ mælˈfʌŋkʃən /

verb

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

noun

1. failure to function or defective functioning

Word History and Origins

Origin of malfunction¹

First recorded in 1925–30; mal- + function

Example Sentences

Nevertheless, air sampling has continued to find troubling levels of toxic metals after equipment malfunctions, repairs and noncompliance with regulation.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Airbus and Boeing, the two biggest aircraft manufacturers, have acknowledged that malfunctions can lead to oil and hydraulic fluid leaking into the engines or power units and vaporizing at extreme heat.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But it was Yang in prosthetics as Dobby the House Elf from “Harry Potter” who won the night despite a hilarious wardrobe malfunction — his rag outfit kept coming off at the shoulder.

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He said his chair has been malfunctioning since the collision.

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Before he was killed earlier this month at a speaking event in Utah, one of the most popular video clips featuring Charlie Kirk showed him mocking a college girl for having a wardrobe malfunction.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• bug 
• defect 
• fault 
• flaw 
• glitch 
• impairment