dysfunction

American  

[dis-fuhngk-shuhn] / dɪsˈfʌŋk ʃən /

noun

1. Medicine/Medical. malfunctioning, as of an organ or structure of the body.

2. any malfunctioning part or element.

   the dysfunctions of the country's economy.

3. Sociology. a consequence of a social practice or behavior pattern that undermines the stability of a social system.

---

dysfunction British  

/ dɪsˈfʌŋkʃən /

noun

1. med any disturbance or abnormality in the function of an organ or part

2. (esp of a family) failure to show the characteristics or fulfil the purposes accepted as normal or beneficial

---

Other Word Forms

• dysfunctional adjective

Etymology

Origin of dysfunction

First recorded in 1915–20; dys- + function

Explanation

If there's dysfunction, then things aren't working right. High blood pressure is a medical dysfunction, and fighting amongst teammates is a kind of social dysfunction. If you know that function means to work, then you shouldn't be surprised that dysfunction means something isn't working. Blind people have an optical dysfunction. A family that yells all the time and never listens has a communication dysfunction. If your car breaks down, it has some kind of mechanical dysfunction. But if everything is going smoothly? You're dysfunction-free.

Example Sentences

The disorder causes constant, relentless hunger through hypothalamic dysfunction, where the brain fails to register fullness, often leading to life-threatening obesity.

From Barron's • Apr. 6, 2026

"It's not laziness, it's the executive dysfunction that makes it difficult... People have trouble focusing their attention and keeping it sustained long enough to complete these tasks," she said.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

As a result, dysfunction at the agency has reached the point where it even poses a threat to employers with charges against them before the agency.

From Salon • Mar. 13, 2026

Another challenge is the need for larger patient groups and long term studies to determine cause and effect and to clarify how dysfunction in tanycytes may lead to tau buildup.

From Science Daily • Mar. 8, 2026

“Did we inherit the same dysfunction or something?”

From "Far from the Tree" by Robin Benway