Definition of malfunction
intransitive verb
: to function imperfectly or badly : fail to operate normally
malfunction
nounPeople Are Reading
Examples of malfunction in a Sentence
A software problem is causing the system to malfunction.
Recent Examples of malfunction from the Web
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If traffic lights are out or malfunctioning in the area, motorists should treat the intersections as four-way stops.
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One of the SEALs was killed when his chute apparently malfunctioned.
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U.S. Navy SEAL fell to his death Sunday after his parachute malfunctioned during a skydiving demonstration over the Hudson River during an annual Fleet Week festival in New Jersey, Navy officials said.
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CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Francisco Lindor's glove, the gear that earned him all of the defensive hardware in the league's toolbox last winter, malfunctioned at the worst possible moment on Friday night.
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The plane’s landing gear malfunctioned after takeoff.
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At times, some officers’ weapons malfunctioned while others ran out of ammunition, according to the report.
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Fortunately, their weapons malfunctioned, and no one was killed.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'malfunction'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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.
First Known Use of malfunction
1941
MALFUNCTION Defined for English Language Learners
malfunction
playDefinition of malfunction for English Language Learners
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: to fail to function or work properly
Medical Dictionary
malfunction
playMedical Definition of malfunction
: to function imperfectly or badly : fail to operate in the normal or usual manner malfunctioning kidneys
malfunction
nounLearn More about malfunction
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Spanish Central: Translation of malfunction Nglish: Translation of malfunction for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of malfunction for Arabic speakers
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