dysfunction

• disfunction (nonstandard)

From dys- + function.

• IPA^(key): /dɪsˈfʌŋk.ʃən/

• Audio (Southern England):

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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

   • 2004, Johnny D. Hoskins, Geriatrics and Gerontology of the Dog and Cat, →ISBN, page 358:

     Cerebellar dysfunction is characterized by truncal ataxia, a broad-based stance, dysmetria in which the limbs either overstep (hypermetria) or understep (hypometria), and tremor that is most pronounced when the animal attempts a goal-orientated movement (intention tremor).

   • 2005, Dwight Evans, Dennis S. Charney, Lydia Lewis, The Physician’s Guide to Depression and Bipolar Disorders, →ISBN, page 69:

     We next consider the cognification of interpersonal dysfunctions in treating clinical depression.

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.