English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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dys- +‎ function

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /dɪsˈfʌŋk.ʃən/

Noun

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dysfunction (countable and uncountable, plural dysfunctions)

  1. (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

Derived terms

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Translations

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Verb

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dysfunction (third-person singular simple present dysfunctions, present participle dysfunctioning, simple past and past participle dysfunctioned)

  1. (nonstandard, intransitive, chiefly biology) To fail to function correctly; to malfunction.