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
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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
Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 11 Dec. 2025
Initial investigations by both Universal and Florida regulators had indicated the ride did not malfunction.
—Eve Chen, USA Today, 11 Dec. 2025
Richard Newby, Time, 6 Dec. 2025
The fighter jets were lost due to malfunction, a friendly fire shootdown, and a defensive evasive maneuver, according to the Navy's investigation.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for malfunction
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Verb
If the damage is visible or significant—torn pages, water exposure, stains, or a malfunctioning chip—a replacement is the only safe route.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 11 Dec. 2025
Initial investigations by both Universal and Florida regulators had indicated the ride did not malfunction.
—Eve Chen, USA Today, 11 Dec. 2025
Noun
In Split Fiction, two authors, Zoe and Mio, get trapped inside their respective fantasy and science fiction novels after a machine that allows each to experience their fictional worlds first-hand malfunctions.
—Richard Newby, Time, 6 Dec. 2025
The fighter jets were lost due to malfunction, a friendly fire shootdown, and a defensive evasive maneuver, according to the Navy's investigation.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for malfunction
Cite this Entry
“Malfunction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/malfunction. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.
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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