Definition of dysfunctional
: 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
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for dysfunctional
The first known use of dysfunctional was in 1915
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