dysfunction
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a problem that stops a part of your body from working the way it should.
n.impaired or abnormal functioning of a bodily organ or system.
Simple“The doctor explained that the patient's liver dysfunction was caused by a long-term illness.”
In context“Clinical studies suggest that chronic kidney dysfunction can lead to a cascade of secondary complications if not managed through rigorous dietary intervention.”
UsageOften used as an uncountable noun in medical contexts.
Synonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.unhealthy or harmful behavior within a group, especially a family.
n.the failure of a social group or family unit to function responsibly or provide a healthy environment.
Simple“The movie explores the dysfunction in a family that refuses to talk about its problems.”
In context“Sociologists argue that systemic dysfunction within the local government contributed to the collapse of the urban renewal project.”
UsageCommonly used to describe interpersonal dynamics in psychology and sociology.
Synonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
v.to stop working correctly or to behave in a way that is not normal.
v.to fail to function in the intended or expected manner. This verbal use is less common than the noun form.
Simple“The old computer started to dysfunction after the new software was installed.”
In context“When the cooling system began to dysfunction, the engineers were forced to initiate an emergency shutdown of the entire server rack.”
Teacher's tipWhile 'dysfunction' is widely accepted as a noun, using it as a verb is often considered non-standard; 'malfunction' is usually preferred in formal writing.
SynonymsAntonyms
“Most of us come upon our family’s dysfunctions gradually, like a door that opens a little wider each year.”
“This finding suggests that NMDAR dysfunction may still be treatable after major stages of brain development are complete.”
From dys- + function.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.