functional
adjective
func·tion·al
ˈfəŋ(k)-shnəl 
-shə-nᵊl
1
2
: used to contribute to the development or maintenance of a larger whole
functional and practical school courses
also
: designed or developed chiefly from the point of view of use
The design of the building is not only functional but also beautiful.
3
: performing or able to perform a regular function
The flashlight was still functional after I had dropped it.
Synonyms
Examples of functional in a Sentence
The building's design is not only functional but also beautiful.
The flashlight was still functional after I dropped it.
The computer network is fully functional.
Recent Examples on the Web
Part of providing better remuneration to professional artists is removing non-music tracks (also called functional music) from the platform and Deezer’s earnings release confirmed the company has removed over 26 million tracks (non-artist content, noise and duplicates) since October 2023.
—
Glenn Peoples, Billboard, 29 Apr. 2024
This folio protects your iPad (back and front) while giving your iPad a functional keyboard and trackpad to improve your typing experience.
—Stackcommerce Team, PCMAG, 25 Apr. 2024
The March 22 attack would likely not have cost so many lives, and might have been averted entirely, had Russia maintained functional intelligence-sharing channels with the West.
—Maksim Samorukov, Foreign Affairs, 25 Apr. 2024
Liu believes that these communities have very high levels of functional redundancy — meaning that multiple species may perform similar ecological roles and could therefore be interchangeable.
—Quanta Magazine, 24 Apr. 2024
The truck needed a complete reboot to become fully functional again
After just a couple of months and a few thousand miles of ownership, Tik Tok user @captian.ad’s Tesla Cybertruck was effectively a several-thousand-pound paperweight for several hours.
—Bradley Brownell / Jalopnik, Quartz, 18 Apr. 2024
There wasn’t a functional vacuum cleaner or the political will to budget for one.
—Benjamin Nugent, The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 2024
Speech therapy for children with autism focuses on improving communication skills, occupational therapy enhances everyday functional abilities and independence, and behavioral therapy helps manage behaviors, developing coping strategies for social interaction and emotional regulation.
—Lauren J. Mapp, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Apr. 2024
Applications continuously accepted Human Resources Generalist Description: Advises and provides assistance in all functional areas of Human Resources.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2024
Glenn Peoples, Billboard, 29 Apr. 2024
This folio protects your iPad (back and front) while giving your iPad a functional keyboard and trackpad to improve your typing experience.
—Stackcommerce Team, PCMAG, 25 Apr. 2024
The March 22 attack would likely not have cost so many lives, and might have been averted entirely, had Russia maintained functional intelligence-sharing channels with the West.
—Maksim Samorukov, Foreign Affairs, 25 Apr. 2024
Liu believes that these communities have very high levels of functional redundancy — meaning that multiple species may perform similar ecological roles and could therefore be interchangeable.
—Quanta Magazine, 24 Apr. 2024
The truck needed a complete reboot to become fully functional again
After just a couple of months and a few thousand miles of ownership, Tik Tok user @captian.ad’s Tesla Cybertruck was effectively a several-thousand-pound paperweight for several hours.
—Bradley Brownell / Jalopnik, Quartz, 18 Apr. 2024
There wasn’t a functional vacuum cleaner or the political will to budget for one.
—Benjamin Nugent, The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 2024
Speech therapy for children with autism focuses on improving communication skills, occupational therapy enhances everyday functional abilities and independence, and behavioral therapy helps manage behaviors, developing coping strategies for social interaction and emotional regulation.
—Lauren J. Mapp, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Apr. 2024
Applications continuously accepted Human Resources Generalist Description: Advises and provides assistance in all functional areas of Human Resources.
—Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 15 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'functional.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near functional
Cite this Entry
“Functional.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/functional. Accessed 3 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
functional
adjective
func·tion·al
ˈfuŋ(k)-shnəl
-shən-ᵊl
1
a
: of, connected with, or being a function
b
: affecting bodily functions but not structure
functional heart disease
2
: designed or developed chiefly from the point of view of use
functional clothes
functional writing
3
: performing or able to perform a regular function
Medical Definition
functional
adjective
func·tion·al
ˈfəŋ(k)-shnəl, -shən-ᵊl
1
a
: of, connected with, or being a function compare structural sense 1
b
: affecting physiological or psychological functions but not organic structure
functional heart disease
a functional psychosis
compare organic sense 1b
2
: performing or able to perform a regular function
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