nonfunctional

adjective

non·​func·​tion·​al ˌnän-ˈfəŋ(k)-shnəl 

-shə-nᵊl

: not functional: such as

a

: having no function : serving or performing no useful purpose

Naive art … tends to be decorative and nonfunctional.

—Robert Atkins

b

: not performing or able to perform a regular function

… the entire network is rendered nonfunctional if the central controller fails.

—Charles Feltman

nonfunctionally adverb

Synonyms of nonfunctional

• nonfunctioning
• malfunctioning
• down
• inoperable
• inoperative
• broken
• out of commission

Examples of nonfunctional in a Sentence

that gas pump is nonfunctional, which is the reason for the plastic bag over the nozzle

Recent Examples on the Web

In most populations around the world, many of these genes have accumulated mutations over time that have left about 60 percent of them nonfunctional. — Willow Zhang, Scientific American, 11 Aug. 2026

Amid three years of war, the WHO reported in April 2026 that 37% of Sudan’s health facilities were nonfunctional. — Katrine L. Wallace, The Conversation, 29 July 2026

Down the road from his house, drivers cautiously approached a nonfunctional traffic light on Hampstead Mexico Road that was impacted by an outage. — Gabriella Fine, Baltimore Sun, 9 July 2026

The Placer County Sheriff’s Office said drivers should treat intersections with nonfunctional traffic signals as a four-way stop. — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 20 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1878, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for nonfunctional

• bifunctional
• dysfunctional
• functional
• junctional

Medical Definition

nonfunctional

adjective

non·​func·​tion·​al -ˈfəŋ(k)-shnəl, -shən-ᵊl 

: nonfunctioning

a nonfunctional muscle