functional

[ fuhngk-shuh-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 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.
5. Medicine/Medical. without a known organic cause or structural change: Compare organic ( def 5 ).

   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

/ 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

Derived Forms

• ˈfunctionally, adverb

Other Words From

• func·tion·al·i·ty [fuhngk-sh, uh, -, nal, -i-tee], noun
• func·tion·al·ly adverb
• hy·per·func·tion·al adjective
• hy·per·func·tion·al·ly adverb
• mul·ti·func·tion·al adjective
• non·func·tion·al adjective
• non·func·tion·al·ly adverb
• pre·func·tion·al adjective
• sem·i·func·tion·al adjective
• sem·i·func·tion·al·ly adverb
• sub·func·tion·al adjective
• sub·func·tion·al·ly adverb
• su·per·func·tion·al adjective
• un·func·tion·al adjective
• un·func·tion·al·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of functional¹

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

Example Sentences

At Myogenics Fitness, which opened in West Hollywood in 1998, the atmosphere is clean, simple and functional.

From Los Angeles Times

Jokura told Salon that although no other animal has demonstrated “functional fusion” in the manner seen with the comb jellies, other organisms like corals, sponges and ascidians can physically behave as if they are a single entity despite containing numerous individuals.

From Salon

Reconstructed from excess items and materials from past seasons, the jacket features functional stone-shaped pockets outlined with broken twill.

From Los Angeles Times

At the same time, it has become virtually impossible to leave Gaza for medical treatment and only 16 out of 36 hospitals are functional.

From BBC

The numbers still in need of medical support are huge, with 19 out of Gaza's 36 hospitals out of service and the other 17 only partially functional.

From BBC

Related Words

• practical
• useful
• utilitarian