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

Stefanski is credited with establishing a positive culture in a franchise epitomized by dysfunction. —Mark Anderson, Chicago Tribune, 5 Jan. 2026

Injuries piled up, dysfunction crept in and winnable games slipped away. —Law Murray, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2026

Rosebush Pruning Callum Turner and Riley Keough top the cast of Karim Aïnouz’s remake of Marco Bellochio’s 1965 satirical drama about family dysfunction feature Fists in the Pocket. —Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 1 Jan. 2026

As usual, 2025 was a year of deep congressional dysfunction in the US. —Adi Robertson, The Verge, 1 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

dys- + function entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1916, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing dysfunction

• erectile dysfunction
• minimal brain dysfunction

Rhymes for dysfunction

• adjunction
• compunction
• conjunction
• disjunction
• injunction
• inunction
• malfunction
• eigenfunction
• multifunction
• function
• junction
• unction

Kids Definition

dysfunction

noun

dys·​func·​tion dis-ˈfəŋ(k)-shən 

: impaired or abnormal functioning

liver dysfunction

dysfunctional

-shnəl 

-shən-ᵊl

adjective

Medical Definition

dysfunction

noun

dys·​func·​tion

variants also disfunction

(ˈ)dis-ˈfəŋ(k)-shən 

: impaired or abnormal functioning (as of an organ of the body)

dysfunctional

-shnəl, -shən-ᵊl 

adjective

dysfunctioning

-shə-niŋ 

noun