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Meaning & use

malformed

adjective·Academic

Last updated

UK/ˌmælˈfɔːmd/
US/ˌmælˈfɔːrmd/

Meanings

  1. adjectivebefore a nounmedical

    Having an abnormal or incorrectly formed body, limb, organ, or other physical structure.

    Grammar: Common before a noun: 'a malformed wing.' It can also be predicative after 'be,' but it is not normally graded.

    Patterns

    • malformed limb
    • malformed heart valve
    • malformed seedlings

    The veterinarian treated a bird with a malformed wing that could not fully open.

    Prenatal scans help doctors plan care for a fetus with a malformed heart valve.

  2. adjectivenot comparablecomputingtechnical

    Not matching the required structure, rules, or format, especially for data, code, or requests.

    Grammar: Common in computing with nouns like request, URL, XML, or packet; opposite of well-formed.

    Patterns

    • malformed request
    • malformed URL
    • malformed XML
    • malformed packet

    The server returned an error because the client sent a malformed request.

    Before import, the tool rejected two malformed rows in the spreadsheet.

Common combinations

malformed request
A malformed request can expose a web application to unexpected input.
malformed data
The dashboard ignored malformed data rather than crashing the report.
severely malformed
The condition can leave a severely malformed joint stiff and painful.
malformed packet
The firewall drops any malformed packet that does not match protocol rules.

Synonyms and how they differ

deformed
Deformed often implies a lasting change in shape from injury, disease, or birth; malformed stresses incorrect formation.
defective
Defective means faulty or not working properly, broader than a wrong physical or structural form.
corrupt
Corrupt data is damaged or altered so it cannot be trusted; malformed data may simply break format rules.
invalid
Invalid is the common computing term for input that fails rules; malformed specifically points to bad structure.

Opposites

normalwell-formedhealthy

Word family

malformation noun
An abnormal formation or structure, especially one present from birth or development.
malform verb
Rare: to form badly or abnormally; more often the noun or adjective is used.

Commonly confused: malformed or deformed? malformed or well-formed?

malformed vs deformed

Deformed often describes changed shape after damage; malformed can describe anything wrongly formed, including data that never followed the format.

malformed vs well-formed

In grammar and computing, well-formed means correctly structured; malformed is its direct opposite.

Practice

The API rejected the message because it contained a ___ JSON object.

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