dysfunction
noun
dys·func·tion
| \ (ˌ)dis-ˈfəŋ(k)-shən
\
\
variants:
or less commonly disfunction
Definition of dysfunction
1
: impaired or abnormal functioning
gastrointestinal dysfunction
2
: abnormal or unhealthy interpersonal behavior or interaction within a group
family dysfunction
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Examples of dysfunction in a Sentence
The disease causes gastrointestinal dysfunctions.
Recent Examples on the Web
Your narrative illustrates the heartbreaking generational fracturing caused by extreme dysfunction. — Amy Dickinson, Detroit Free Press, "Abuse survivor went through it and is now over it," 21 Aug. 2019 Your narrative illustrates the heartbreaking generational fracturing caused by extreme dysfunction. — Dear Abby, oregonlive.com, "Ask Amy: Sibling avoids family in effort to minimize abuse but gets pressure to reconcile," 21 Aug. 2019 Your narrative illustrates the heartbreaking generational fracturing caused by extreme dysfunction. — Amy Dickinson, The Denver Post, "Ask Amy: Abuse survivor went through it and is now over it," 21 Aug. 2019 Your narrative illustrates the heartbreaking generational fracturing caused by extreme dysfunction. — Amy Dickinson, The Mercury News, "Ask Amy: She just won’t keep her hands off me," 21 Aug. 2019 Your narrative illustrates the heartbreaking generational fracturing caused by extreme dysfunction. — Amy Dickinson, BostonGlobe.com, "Abuse survivor went through it and is now over it," 16 Aug. 2019 The series' autobiographical elements are limited to its creator's worldview and do not include the loss and dysfunction that consume Waller-Bridge's character. — Michael O'connell, The Hollywood Reporter, "From 'Fleabag' to James Bond and Beyond: Phoebe Waller-Bridge on Death and Her Secret New Movie," 14 Aug. 2019 And the fourth is the growing polarization and dysfunction of democracy in the United States, and then the new context of an authoritarian personality in the White House and complacency everywhere. — Eric Johnson, Vox, "The wrong US response to Russia and China may trigger a “new Cold War,” warns Stanford University’s Larry Diamond," 7 Aug. 2019 Sport only works when people treat it with professionalism and understand the importance of order, but these dissident individuals flourish mostly in chaos and dysfunction. — SI.com, "Diego Costa Is Trouble But Sport Is Not the Same Without the Troublemakers," 28 July 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dysfunction.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for dysfunction
dysfunction
noun
English Language Learners Definition of dysfunction
: the condition of having poor and unhealthy behaviors and attitudes within a group of people
medical
: the state of being unable to function in a normal way
See the full definition for dysfunction in the English Language Learners Dictionary
dysfunction
noun
dys·func·tion
variants:
also disfunction \ (ˈ)dis-ˈfəŋ(k)-shən
\
\
Medical Definition of dysfunction
: impaired or abnormal functioning (as of an organ of the body) — see minimal brain dysfunction
Other Words from dysfunction
dysfunctional
\ -shnəl, -shən-ᵊl
\
adjective
\
adjective
dysfunctioning
\ -shə-niŋ
\
noun
\
noun
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