functional

Meanings

1. 1adjectivecomparable

   Able to work as intended, so that it does its job.

   Grammar: Can follow a linking verb or come before a noun: the lift is functional again.

   Patterns

   • be fully functional
   • become functional

   The old printer is still functional, even though it is slow.

   Engineers made the bridge functional again within a week of the flood.

   Only two of the four elevators were functional on Monday.

2. 2adjectivecomparable

   Designed mainly to be practical and useful rather than attractive.

   Grammar: Often describes design or furniture: a functional kitchen, not a fancy one.

   Patterns

   • functional design
   • functional clothing

   The office furniture was plain but functional.

   She prefers functional shoes that she can wear all day.

   The hotel room was small and functional, with nothing extra.

3. 3adjectivebefore a nountechnical

   Relating to the way something works or what it is used for, as opposed to how it looks or what it is made of.

   Grammar: Used before nouns such as role, skill or difference: a functional role.

   Patterns

   • functional role
   • functional difference

   Doctors tested whether the damage caused any functional loss in the patient's hand.

   The two parts look similar but have different functional roles in the cell.

   The software team wrote a list of functional requirements before starting.

Word forms

Common combinations

fully functional

The repaired radio is fully functional now.

perfectly functional

The bike is old but perfectly functional.

functional design

The shop's functional design makes it easy to find things.

functional requirements

The client sent a document of functional requirements for the app.

remain functional

The generator must remain functional during the outage.

Synonyms and how they differ

working

This is the plain everyday word for something that is not broken, while functional can also praise a practical design.

practical

This stresses usefulness in real life, whereas functional stresses that the object does what it was made for.

operational

This is more formal and is used for machines, systems or services that are running, not for plain furniture.

utilitarian

This often sounds slightly negative, suggesting something plain and without beauty, while functional is more neutral.

Opposites

Word family

function noun

the purpose of something, or a mathematical rule

function verb

to work or operate in a particular way

functionally adverb

in a way that relates to how something works

functionality noun

the range of things a product can do

dysfunctional adjective

not working normally or properly

Commonly confused: functional or functionable?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “functional”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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