dysfunction
dysfunction Lexical Profile
dysfunction Game Scores & Validity
• noun
Abnormality or impairment in the operation of a specified bodily organ or system.
"The patient was referred to a specialist after blood tests revealed signs of severe liver dysfunction."
Disruption or unhealthy breakdown of normal social relations, communication, or organizational operations within a family, group, or institution.
"Years of political dysfunction and partisan gridlock prevented the legislature from passing a budget on time."
• verb
To fail to function normally or properly (especially of a bodily organ or social system).
"When the immune system begins to dysfunction, the body becomes vulnerable to opportunistic infections."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse 'dysfunction' with 'disfunction'; the standard spelling uses 'dys-' (from Greek, meaning abnormal or impaired), whereas 'malfunction' is typically preferred for mechanical or electronic failures rather than biological or social ones.
• Rhymes for dysfunction
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the early 20th century by combining the Greek prefix 'dys-' (meaning bad, abnormal, or difficult) with 'function', from Latin 'functio' (meaning performance or execution).