noun
dysfunction
dihs-FUHNGK-shuhn
noun
1
A failure to work properly, especially in an organ, relationship, or system.
"The therapist helped the family address years of dysfunction."
"Erectile dysfunction is a common medical complaint."
How to Use Dysfunction
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething — a body part, a relationship, an organisation — not working the way it should.
Common pairings
sexual dysfunction
family dysfunction
organ dysfunction
Word Forms
dysfunctioned past tense, dysfunctions plural, dysfunctions singular
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The therapist helped the family address years of _____.
Etymology
Built from the prefix "dys-" (bad, abnormal) attached to "function".