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

Perhaps the greatest display of this team’s dysfunction was firing Eberflus two hours after sending him out to do a press conference. —Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 4 Dec. 2024

Those symptoms can be warning signs of specific types of cognitive dysfunction, like Lewy body and Parkinson’s dementia (which some but not all people with Parkinson’s disease can develop). —Jessie Van Amburg, SELF, 25 Nov. 2024

Naturally, there's plenty of dysfunction as confessions are made, a turkey is flung across the table, a football game leads to a fistfight, and Claudia tries to maintain her sanity. —Gwen Ihnat, EW.com, 23 Nov. 2024

Series creator Sam Levinson has been one of Hollywood’s favorite subjects of gossip since the HBO drama premiered in 2019; there are rumors of his feuds with actors and dysfunction as a director, while many take issue with his explicit depictions of teen characters’ bodies on-screen. —Selome Hailu, Variety, 20 Nov. 2024

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

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) see minimal brain dysfunction

dysfunctional

-shnəl, -shən-ᵊl 

adjective

dysfunctioning

-shə-niŋ 

noun