- any disturbance or abnormality in the function of an organ or part
- (esp of a family) failure to show the characteristics or fulfil the purposes accepted as normal or beneficial
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
dys•func•tion
(dis fungk′shən),USA pronunciation n.
dys•func′tion•al, adj.
- Pathology[Med.]malfunctioning, as of an organ or structure of the body.
- any malfunctioning part or element:the dysfunctions of the country's economy.
- Sociologya consequence of a social practice or behavior pattern that undermines the stability of a social system.
- dys- + function 1915–20
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
dysfunction /dɪsˈfʌŋkʃən/ n
'dysfunction' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
rail
- Viagra
- asthenopia
- disfunction
- disorder
- dys-
- ed
- electrooculogram
- erectile dysfunction
- gigantism
- methantheline
- multiple sclerosis
- pellagra
- self-destruct