malfunction
n. C / U B2 Upper Intermediate US //mæɫˈfəŋkʃən// UK //mˌælfˈʌŋkʃən// mal·func·tion
n. a failure to work correctly. You use this when a machine or a system stops doing what it is supposed to do.
n. a failure to function in a normal or satisfactory manner. Often used in technical or formal contexts to describe mechanical or electronic errors.
The computer crashed due to a sudden hardware malfunction.
A minor technical malfunction in the cooling system caused the entire factory to shut down for two hours.
Engineers traced the catastrophic failure to a software malfunction that occurred during the high-pressure phase of the launch sequence.
From mal- (“bad, incorrect”) + function.
Usage
Often used as a countable noun for specific events, but can be uncountable when referring to the general state of failing to work.