mal·func·tion
ˌmal-ˈfəŋ(k)-shən 
malfunctioned; malfunctioning; malfunctions
: to function imperfectly or badly : fail to operate normally
plural malfunctions
: a failure to operate or function in the normal or correct manner : the action or an instance of malfunctioning
a hardware/equipment malfunction
Once thought to be a disease itself dropsy is now known to be a sign of several kinds of body malfunction, especially congestive heart failure and kidney disease.—
C. Clairborne Ray
C. Clairborne RayIn schizophrenia this filtering system malfunctions or short-circuits. This malfunction causes people to misevaluate what they see, hear, and experience in their environment.—Richard Crino
Richard Crino
Did you know?
A malfunctioning switch might keep us from turning on a light. A malfunctioning heart valve might require replacement with an artificial valve, and if your immune system malfunctions it may start to attack healthy cells. And a malfunction in a voting machine could result in hundreds of votes being miscounted.
Examples of malfunction in a Sentence
Verb
A software problem is causing the system to malfunction.
Recent Examples on the Web
Christine Fillmore Stiehl, NBC news, 5 June 2025
Then there was also the case of Russell’s car malfunctioning alarmingly en route to his second-place finish in Bahrain.
—Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 2 June 2025
Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 6 June 2025
The Michigan headquartered Ford Motors is recalling more than a million vehicles over a software malfunction with the rearview cameras.
—Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for malfunction
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Verb
Merkel also testified that the camera used to document that test malfunctioned.
—Christine Fillmore Stiehl, NBC news, 5 June 2025
Then there was also the case of Russell’s car malfunctioning alarmingly en route to his second-place finish in Bahrain.
—Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 2 June 2025
Noun
Instead, a malfunction in the launch mechanism on May 21 caused the stern to slide prematurely into the water, crushing parts of the hull and leaving the bow stranded on the shipway, KCNA reported at the time.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 6 June 2025
The Michigan headquartered Ford Motors is recalling more than a million vehicles over a software malfunction with the rearview cameras.
—Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for malfunction
Cite this Entry
“Malfunction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/malfunction. Accessed 15 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
malfunction
verb
mal·func·tion
(ˈ)mal-ˈfəŋ(k)-shən
: to fail to function or operate properly
malfunction
noun
Medical Definition
malfunction
intransitive verb
mal·func·tion
(ˈ)mal-ˈfəŋ(k)-shən
: to function imperfectly or badly : fail to operate in the normal or usual manner
malfunctioning kidneys
malfunction
noun
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