dysfunction
noun
dys·func·tion
(ˌ)dis-ˈfəŋ(k)-shən 
variants
or less commonly disfunction
1
: impaired or abnormal functioning
gastrointestinal dysfunction
2
: abnormal or unhealthy interpersonal behavior or interaction within a group
family dysfunction
Examples of dysfunction in a Sentence
The disease causes gastrointestinal dysfunctions.
Recent Examples on the Web
Researchers behind the latest science studied 90 participants with major depressive disorder and found lower LDAEP measures (which means higher serotonin levels) predicted orgasmic dysfunction from eight weeks of treatment with escitalopram with 87% accuracy.
—
Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 12 Oct. 2025
And Mac Jones is out in San Francisco, reminding everyone what confidence and a great teacher can look like together, when they’re not smothered by dysfunction.
—Dianna Russini, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
Rajpaul's cause of death was listed as homicide due to acute cardiopulmonary dysfunction and intramuscular/intravascular silicone injections.
—Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025
He is weakened, and yet his opponents underestimate his continuing appeal with voters exhausted by decades of political dysfunction.
—Ian Bremmer, Time, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dysfunction
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Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 12 Oct. 2025
And Mac Jones is out in San Francisco, reminding everyone what confidence and a great teacher can look like together, when they’re not smothered by dysfunction.
—Dianna Russini, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
Rajpaul's cause of death was listed as homicide due to acute cardiopulmonary dysfunction and intramuscular/intravascular silicone injections.
—Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025
He is weakened, and yet his opponents underestimate his continuing appeal with voters exhausted by decades of political dysfunction.
—Ian Bremmer, Time, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dysfunction
Cite this Entry
“Dysfunction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dysfunction. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dysfunction
noun
dys·func·tion
dis-ˈfəŋ(k)-shən
: impaired or abnormal functioning
liver dysfunction
Medical Definition
dysfunction
noun
dys·func·tion
variants
also disfunction
: impaired or abnormal functioning (as of an organ of the body) see minimal brain dysfunction
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