Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
dysfunction. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
dysfunction, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
dysfunction in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
dysfunction you have here. The definition of the word
dysfunction will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
dysfunction, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
From dys- + function.
Pronunciation
Noun
dysfunction (countable and uncountable, plural dysfunctions)
- (chiefly medicine) A failure to function in an expected or complete manner. Usually refers to a disorder in a bodily organ (e.g. erectile dysfunction), a mental disorder, or the improper behavior of a social group.
- Antonyms: eufunction, function
2004, Johnny D. Hoskins, Geriatrics and Gerontology of the Dog and Cat, →ISBN, page 358:Cerebellar dysfunction is characterized by truncal ataxia, a broad-based stance, dysmetria in which the limbs either overstep (hypermetria) or understep (hypometria), and tremor that is most pronounced when the animal attempts a goal-orientated movement (intention tremor).
2005, Dwight Evans, Dennis S. Charney, Lydia Lewis, The Physician’s Guide to Depression and Bipolar Disorders, →ISBN, page 69:We next consider the cognification of interpersonal dysfunctions in treating clinical depression.
Derived terms
Translations
Verb
dysfunction (third-person singular simple present dysfunctions, present participle dysfunctioning, simple past and past participle dysfunctioned)
- (nonstandard, intransitive, chiefly biology) To fail to function correctly; to malfunction.