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Definition of maladjustment

maladjustment

/ˌmæləˈdʒʌstmənt/
mal · ad · just · ment
Plural:maladjustments
•
Adjective:maladjusted
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maladjustment Lexical Profile

maladjustment Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The inability to react successfully and satisfactorily to the demands of one's social environment or personal circumstances.

Example

"The school counselor worked closely with students showing signs of social maladjustment after moving to a new city."

2

Faulty, improper, or inadequate physical or mechanical regulation or alignment.

Example

"A slight maladjustment in the engine's timing belt caused the vehicle to lose power on steep inclines."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for maladjustment

• Nearby Words

malachite
maladapted
maladjusted
maladjustment
malady
malaga
malagarasi

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the early 19th century by combining the prefix 'mal-' (from Old French 'mal', meaning bad or ill) with the noun 'adjustment'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Maladjustment. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/maladjustment
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