Definition of functional
1a : of, connected with, or being a function the functional differences between the departmentsb : affecting physiological or psychological functions but not organic structure functional heart disease
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.
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Examples of functional in a Sentence
They worked outside, so they preferred wearing functional clothes.
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 of functional from the Web
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Delicately woven with Amit Poznansky’s twinkly, doleful score, the film is fairly functional in style, but generally absorbing and admirably serious in intent.
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Twenty-five normal weight men and women were shown pictures of nutritious and non-nutritious foods while being given a functional MRI.
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The hollow body position involves bracing your abs and creating total-body tension, which is a more effective way and functional way of training your abs than traditional crunches.
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Last week, Cleveland for the first time released a clunky-but-functional online database where an address can be searched to see if the city has a record of a lead hazard.
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The carts, repurposed to become functional displays of art, are part of the public art recently approved by the Johnson County Commission.
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The series built around the relationship between Julie Klausner and Billy Eichner amid all manner of poor behavior enters its third season with the occasional flash of functional adulthood creeping into the frame.
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A crowdfunding campaign for a brain imaging study closed Monday after raising almost $80,000 toward a unique goal: the first functional magnetic resonance images of the brain on LSD.
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Wednesday, Voyager Pharmaceutical Corp. presented initial human studies, suggesting leuprolide helped some patients maintain functional capabilities for nearly a year.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'functional'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
1631
First Known Use of functional
1631
FUNCTIONAL Defined for English Language Learners
functional
playDefinition of functional for English Language Learners
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: designed to have a practical use
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medical : affecting the way a part of your body works
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: working properly
Medical Dictionary
functional
playMedical Definition of functional
1a: of, connected with, or being a function—compare structural 1b: affecting physiological or psychological functions but not organic structure functional heart disease a functional psychosis—compare organic 1b
2: performing or able to perform a regular function
Learn More about functional
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for functional Spanish Central: Translation of functional Nglish: Translation of functional for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of functional for Arabic speakers
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