# dysfunctional

/dɪsˈfəŋkʃənəɫ/ (US) · /dɪsfˈʌŋkʃənəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dysfunctional
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. unhealthy relationships

adjective · CEFR B2

describes a group of people, like a family or a team, who do not work well together and often have many problems or arguments.

For teachers: characterised by abnormal or unhealthy interpersonal behaviour within a social group, particularly a family unit, that prevents productive or harmonious functioning.

- The characters in the movie belong to a very dysfunctional family that cannot stop arguing.
- Psychologists often examine how growing up in a dysfunctional household affects a person's ability to form stable adult relationships later in life.

Teaching tip: While this can be a technical term in psychology, it is very common in everyday English to describe any group that is messy or full of conflict.

### 2. not working properly

adjective · CEFR B2

not working the way it is supposed to work.

For teachers: failing to perform the required or expected operation; used for mechanical, biological, or administrative systems.

- The city's dysfunctional public transport system makes it very difficult for people to get to work on time.
- The audit revealed a dysfunctional procurement process that allowed costs to spiral out of control without any oversight from the board.

## Examples

- The old printer is completely dysfunctional and needs replacing.
- The committee became dysfunctional because the members refused to listen to each other's ideas.
- Sociologists argue that dysfunctional institutions often arise when the internal incentives for individuals no longer align with the broader mission of the organization itself.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.