dysfunctional

[ dis-fuhngk-shuh-nl ]

adjective

1. not performing normally, as an organ or structure of the body; malfunctioning.
2. having a malfunctioning part or element:

   It is hard to get bills through a dysfunctional congress.

3. behaving or acting outside social norms:

   All the siblings in their extremely dysfunctional family lost contact as adults.

dysfunctional

/ dɪsˈfʌŋkʃənəl /

adjective

1. med (of an organ or part) not functioning normally
2. (esp of a family) characterized by a breakdown of normal or beneficial relationships between members of the group

Other Words From

• dys·function·al·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of dysfunctional¹

First recorded in 1910–15; dysfunction ( def ) + -al ¹( def )

Example Sentences

I thought releasing a pilot would be a way to challenge myself, so I was like, all right, I’d love to play three different characters in a dysfunctional family show.

From Los Angeles Times

Willett said he agrees with Kennedy that the nation’s health is in decline, and that our food and healthcare systems are “in many ways dysfunctional.”

From Los Angeles Times

By comparing CSF samples from people with and without Alzheimer's disease, the researchers could then identify which cellular pathways are dysfunctional.

From Science Daily

This results in incorrectly edited transcripts, on the basis of which the cell then produces dysfunctional proteins.

From Science Daily

Some argue that allowing a dysfunctional government to hobble on for another year would have led to more instability and deadlock.

From BBC

Related Words

• flawed