dysfunctional

adjective

dys·​func·​tion·​al (ˌ)dis-ˈfəŋ(k)-sh(ə-)nəl 

: characterized by or exhibiting dysfunction: such as

a

: not functioning properly : marked by impaired or abnormal functioning

With 180,000 employees and a $43 billion budget, the department is a collage of 22 distinct government agencies drawn from different corners of the federal organization chart and glued together into a single, largely dysfunctional unit.

—Paul C. Light

This form of anemia develops because the bone marrow is not producing new cells rapidly enough to replace old cells that have become destroyed or otherwise dysfunctional.

—Tom Ewing

This led to a dysfunctional credit market that in important respects soon turned non-functional.

—Warren E. Buffett

b

: characterized by abnormal or unhealthy interpersonal behavior or interaction

dysfunctional relationships

As with any dysfunctional family, it may take an outsider to get a clear picture of the situation.

—Chris Mooney

Did you know?

Dysfunctional and dysfunction have been used for almost a hundred years, often in medical writing ("brain dysfunction", "a dysfunctional liver") but also by social scientists ("a dysfunctional city council", "diplomatic dysfunction"). But they only really entered the general vocabulary in the 1980s, when therapists and talk-show hosts began talking about dysfunctional families. The signs of family dysfunction turned out to be numerous, and it soon began to seem as if pretty much all our families could be called dysfunctional.

Examples of dysfunctional in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The result has been institutional paralysis is some cases, dysfunctional and even destructive governance dynamics in others. —David Rosowsky, Forbes, 5 Jan. 2025

Karan found that when the mitochondria were dysfunctional, as occurs in people with mitochondrial diseases (and, to lesser extent, in those with diabetes and other metabolic disorders), cells in cultures accumulated numts up to 4.7 times more rapidly. —Martin Picard, Scientific American, 3 Jan. 2025

In Jane’s early years, their heroin use had fused them in creative and dysfunctional ways. —Aaron Gilbreath, SPIN, 31 Dec. 2024

After a regular gig on ER (1994–1998) and a recurring spot on Aaron Sorkin’s Sports Night (1999–2000), Macy took on the lead role of irresponsible dad Frank Gallagher in Showtime’s dysfunctional family dramedy Shameless (2011–2021), earning six Emmy nominations. —Danny Horn, EW.com, 29 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

dysfunction + -al entry 1, after functional

First Known Use

1915, in the meaning defined above