Meaning & use
dysfunction
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable or uncountablemedical
A failure of a body part or system to work as it normally should.
Grammar: Often uncountable and followed by a body part or system: kidney dysfunction.
Patterns
- dysfunction of something
- a dysfunction in something
The patient was tested for thyroid dysfunction.
Liver dysfunction can cause tiredness and yellow skin.
Doctors found a minor dysfunction in the heart's valves.
noununcountable
A pattern of unhealthy behavior or poor cooperation in a family, team or organization.
Grammar: Usually uncountable: dysfunction in the family.
Patterns
- dysfunction in something
- dysfunction within something
Therapists saw clear signs of dysfunction in the family.
Constant delays pointed to deeper dysfunction within the company.
Political dysfunction left the budget unsigned for months.
Word forms
| plural | dysfunctions |
|---|
Common combinations
- organ dysfunction
- Organ dysfunction was a risk after the severe infection.
- family dysfunction
- Family dysfunction can affect children for years.
- erectile dysfunction
- Erectile dysfunction is a common medical condition that doctors treat.
- social dysfunction
- The report blamed social dysfunction on poverty and neglect.
- cause dysfunction
- Poor sleep can cause cognitive dysfunction.
- signs of dysfunction
- Teachers looked for signs of dysfunction at home.
Synonyms and how they differ
- malfunction
- Malfunction describes a machine or device that stops working properly, while dysfunction is mostly used for the body and for human systems.
- disorder
- Disorder names a recognised condition or a state of confusion, whereas dysfunction describes the failure to work.
- impairment
- Impairment stresses reduced ability, often lasting, rather than a system working in a harmful way.
- breakdown
- Breakdown suggests a complete collapse, but dysfunction can be partial or ongoing.
Opposites
Word family
- dysfunctional adjective
- not working normally, or unhealthy in behavior
- function noun
- the normal purpose or working of something
- functional adjective
- working properly, or designed to be practical
- dysfunctioning adjective
- failing to work properly
Commonly confused: dysfunction or disfunction?
dysfunction vs disfunction
Disfunction is a misspelling, as the standard spelling uses dys-.
Practice
The doctor suspected kidney ___ after the blood test results.
Choose one answer.
Dysfunction means a body organ not working properly. Disruption means an interruption and does not describe an organ's health.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “dysfunction”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.