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

The director, recently freed from a malfunctioning elevator in a pithily Andersonian incident, made a brief appearance onstage with Murray. — Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026

Four years ago, Missouri farmer Jared Wilson’s John Deere combine malfunctioned mid-harvest. — Natalie Kainz, NBC news, 10 July 2026

Noun

Aerospace companies can anticipate when a part or machine is likely to require service, and with that, maintenance schedules for service teams can be planned in advance, with unexpected malfunctions handled on the fly. — Beena Ammanath, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

This isn’t the first time Holland’s Spidey-Senses have helped Zendaya avoid a wardrobe malfunction. — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 17 July 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