Wiktionary

dysfunctional

English

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Etymology

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From dysfunction +‎ -al.

Adjective

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dysfunctional (comparative more dysfunctional, superlative most dysfunctional)

  1. Not performing its proper or intended function.
    Antonym: operational
    Hyponym: broken
  2. Functioning incorrectly or abnormally; especially, designating of a business, family or social group with harmful, aberrant, strange or abnormal behavior.
    Antonyms: eufunctional, functional, cooperative
    • 2023 October 22, Ruth Michaelson, “Netanyahu told to ‘quit now’ as ex-leaders pin blame on dysfunctional government”, in The Observer‎[1], →ISSN:
      A former chief of staff of the Israel Defence Forces said that Netanyahu should “resign now”, while a former intelligence official described the government as “dysfunctional”.
    • 2024 March 20, Christian Wolmar, “NAO report highlights lack of clarity and purpose”, in RAIL, number 1005, page 34:
      It is difficult to find the right words for what has happened in the five years since the May 2018 timetable changes exposed the very dysfunctional nature of the franchise system set up by the privatisation process of the 1990s.

Usage notes

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Often used in regard to social and organizational functioning: "dysfunctional quality assurance", dysfunctional family, dysfunctional behavior.

Derived terms

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Translations

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