malfunction

1 of 2

verb

mal·​func·​tion ˌmal-ˈfəŋ(k)-shən 

malfunctioned; malfunctioning; malfunctions

intransitive verb

: to function imperfectly or badly : fail to operate normally

malfunction

2 of 2

noun

plural malfunctions

: a failure to operate or function in the normal or correct manner : the action or an instance of malfunctioning

a hardware/equipment malfunction

Once thought to be a disease itself dropsy is now known to be a sign of several kinds of body malfunction, especially congestive heart failure and kidney disease.

—C. Clairborne Ray

In schizophrenia this filtering system malfunctions or short-circuits. This malfunction causes people to misevaluate what they see, hear, and experience in their environment.

—Richard Crino

Did you know?

A malfunctioning switch might keep us from turning on a light. A malfunctioning heart valve might require replacement with an artificial valve, and if your immune system malfunctions it may start to attack healthy cells. And a malfunction in a voting machine could result in hundreds of votes being miscounted.

Examples of malfunction in a Sentence

Verb

A software problem is causing the system to malfunction.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

But Armstrong gets to play the savvier, less naive Fern as a bit more of a badass, though all four kids are in over their heads when the ship’s malfunctioning droid (Nick Frost) navigates them straight into a pirate den. —Alison Herman, Variety, 3 Dec. 2024

Tragedy struck production that afternoon as Hamilton’s trap door malfunctioned and the enormous plume of fire and orange smoke badly burned the actress during one of the takes. —Stephen Cox, People.com, 26 Nov. 2024

Noun

As the scene progressed, though, Sandler’s patient took over the spotlight because a technical malfunction forced the actor to say the same line three times while waiting for the blood-gushing mechanism to work. —Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 15 Dec. 2024

Things get really ugly when Alice malfunctions shortly after Maggie returns home from the hospital following her successful surgery. —Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 13 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1941, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1892, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

malfunction

verb

mal·​func·​tion (ˈ)mal-ˈfəŋ(k)-shən 

: to fail to function or operate properly

malfunction noun

Medical Definition

malfunction

intransitive verb

mal·​func·​tion (ˈ)mal-ˈfəŋ(k)-shən 

: to function imperfectly or badly : fail to operate in the normal or usual manner

malfunctioning kidneys

malfunction noun