malfunction

1 of 2

verb

mal·​func·​tion ˌmal-ˈfəŋ(k)-shən 

malfunctioned; malfunctioning; malfunctions

intransitive verb

: to function imperfectly or badly : fail to operate normally

malfunction

2 of 2

noun

plural malfunctions

: a failure to operate or function in the normal or correct manner : the action or an instance of malfunctioning

a hardware/equipment malfunction

Once thought to be a disease itself dropsy is now known to be a sign of several kinds of body malfunction, especially congestive heart failure and kidney disease.

—C. Clairborne Ray

In schizophrenia this filtering system malfunctions or short-circuits. This malfunction causes people to misevaluate what they see, hear, and experience in their environment.

—Richard Crino

Did you know?

A malfunctioning switch might keep us from turning on a light. A malfunctioning heart valve might require replacement with an artificial valve, and if your immune system malfunctions it may start to attack healthy cells. And a malfunction in a voting machine could result in hundreds of votes being miscounted.

Examples of malfunction in a Sentence

Verb

A software problem is causing the system to malfunction.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Not only should the ride have never malfunctioned, but the crisis was further exacerbated by the lack of a safety plan at Oaks Park. — Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Deaths apparently caused by malfunctioning or inaccessible doorhandles, have led to regulatory changes in China, prompting the widespread recalls involving nine automakers. — Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2026

Noun

The jury voted 10-2 this week to award the teens $275,000 each in their case against Oaks Park and ride manufacturer Zamperla over the June 2024 malfunction of the AtmosFEAR ride in Portland, according to FOX 12 Oregon. — Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Overheating electronics contributed to the failure of two of the craft's three reaction wheels, compounded by an unrelated malfunction in its thruster system. — David Szondy august 20, New Atlas, 21 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1941, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1892, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for malfunction

• adjunction
• compunction
• conjunction
• disjunction
• dysfunction
• injunction
• eigenfunction
• multifunction
• function
• junction
• unction
• heterojunction

Kids Definition

malfunction

verb

mal·​func·​tion (ˈ)mal-ˈfəŋ(k)-shən 

: to fail to function or operate properly

malfunction noun

Medical Definition

malfunction

intransitive verb

mal·​func·​tion (ˈ)mal-ˈfəŋ(k)-shən 

: to function imperfectly or badly : fail to operate in the normal or usual manner

malfunctioning kidneys

malfunction noun