dysfunctional

adjective

dys·​func·​tion·​al (ˌ)dis-ˈfəŋ(k)-shnəl How to pronounce dysfunctional (audio)
-shə-nᵊl
: characterized by or exhibiting dysfunction: such as
a
: not functioning properly : marked by impaired or abnormal functioning
With 180,000 employees and a $43 billion budget, the department is a collage of 22 distinct government agencies drawn from different corners of the federal organization chart and glued together into a single, largely dysfunctional unit.Paul C. Light
This form of anemia develops because the bone marrow is not producing new cells rapidly enough to replace old cells that have become destroyed or otherwise dysfunctional.Tom Ewing
This led to a dysfunctional credit market that in important respects soon turned non-functional.Warren E. Buffett
b
: characterized by abnormal or unhealthy interpersonal behavior or interaction
dysfunctional relationships
As with any dysfunctional family, it may take an outsider to get a clear picture of the situation.Chris Mooney

Did you know?

Dysfunctional and dysfunction have been used for almost a hundred years, often in medical writing ("brain dysfunction", "a dysfunctional liver") but also by social scientists ("a dysfunctional city council", "diplomatic dysfunction"). But they only really entered the general vocabulary in the 1980s, when therapists and talk-show hosts began talking about dysfunctional families. The signs of family dysfunction turned out to be numerous, and it soon began to seem as if pretty much all our families could be called dysfunctional.

Examples of dysfunctional in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Parents Bob and Jane Carter are described as fostering a dysfunctional home environment, including alcohol abuse John Spaulding, who is Nick and Aaron Carter’s cousin, gives his perspective on the Carter family in the show. Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 28 May 2024 At the local level, dysfunctional examples — mayors cycling in and out of office after months or even days; angry clashes between parties — abound. John Eligon Prentice Onayemi Anna Diamond Devin Murphy, New York Times, 21 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for dysfunctional 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dysfunctional.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

dysfunction + -al entry 1, after functional

First Known Use

1915, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dysfunctional was in 1915

Dictionary Entries Near dysfunctional

dysfunction

dysfunctional

dysgenesis

Cite this Entry

“Dysfunctional.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dysfunctional. Accessed 1 Jun. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on dysfunctional

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