mal·func·tion
ˌmal-ˈfəŋ(k)-shən 
malfunctioned; malfunctioning; malfunctions
: to function imperfectly or badly : fail to operate normally
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
C. Clairborne RayIn 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
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
Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2026
For the second time since launch, Orion’s toilet is malfunctioning.
—Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 5 Apr. 2026
Drew Kann, AJC.com, 6 Apr. 2026
The malfunction with the on-the-nose Rear Brake Light Outage Detection system, which wouldn’t alert you if the break light goes dim, has impacted around 3,300 Corvettes.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for malfunction
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Verb
But the system started showing signs of trouble shortly into the flight and eventually malfunctioned as flight Day 3 was winding down.
—Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2026
For the second time since launch, Orion’s toilet is malfunctioning.
—Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 5 Apr. 2026
Noun
The measure also would have set safety standards and established protections for electric utilities to shield them from liability in the event of a plug-in solar malfunction.
—Drew Kann, AJC.com, 6 Apr. 2026
The malfunction with the on-the-nose Rear Brake Light Outage Detection system, which wouldn’t alert you if the break light goes dim, has impacted around 3,300 Corvettes.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 6 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for malfunction
Cite this Entry
“Malfunction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/malfunction. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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