dysfunction

noun

dys·​func·​tion (ˌ)dis-ˈfəŋ(k)-shən 

variants or less commonly disfunction

1

: impaired or abnormal functioning

gastrointestinal dysfunction

2

: abnormal or unhealthy interpersonal behavior or interaction within a group

family dysfunction

Examples of dysfunction in a Sentence

The disease causes gastrointestinal dysfunctions.

Recent Examples on the Web

Rapoport also pointed to colleague Tom Pelissero’s report regarding the Raiders’ dysfunction. —Josh Buckhalter, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Nov. 2025

That’s evidence of deep dysfunction in local governance, not something to brag about. —Editorial, Boston Herald, 29 Nov. 2025

Fundamentally, watching family dysfunction while dealing with or escaping your own sounds terrible; the fantasy of Christmas offered by everything from Home Alone to Arthur Christmas is not a part of the collective imagination surrounding Thanksgiving. —Alex Ross Perry, Vulture, 27 Nov. 2025

And signing that lease extension and then trying to get out of it seems yet another example of the dysfunction in that athletic department. —Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 26 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

dys- + function entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1916, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing dysfunction

• erectile dysfunction
• minimal brain dysfunction

Rhymes for dysfunction

• adjunction
• compunction
• conjunction
• disjunction
• injunction
• inunction
• malfunction
• eigenfunction
• multifunction
• function
• junction
• unction

Kids Definition

dysfunction

noun

dys·​func·​tion dis-ˈfəŋ(k)-shən 

: impaired or abnormal functioning

liver dysfunction

dysfunctional

-shnəl 

-shən-ᵊl

adjective

Medical Definition

dysfunction

noun

dys·​func·​tion

variants also disfunction

(ˈ)dis-ˈfəŋ(k)-shən 

: impaired or abnormal functioning (as of an organ of the body)

dysfunctional

-shnəl, -shən-ᵊl 

adjective

dysfunctioning

-shə-niŋ 

noun