malfunction
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.”
Often used as a countable noun for specific events, but can be uncountable when referring to the general state of failing to work.
“If you’re asked to leave because of malfunctioning machines, don’t.”
“A safety system detected dangerous levels of engine thrust, assumed a malfunction, and ordered the fuel supply to be cut off, the theory goes.”
From mal- (“bad, incorrect”) + function.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.