Dysfunctional
/dɪsˈfʌŋkʃənəl/
Definitions
Not working properly or in the intended way; impaired in function.
/dɪsˈfʌŋkʃənəl/
Not operating normally or in a healthy way
The dysfunctional air conditioning system made the office unbearable in the summer.
💡 Simply: Think of a machine that's broken or a family that's always fighting. Dysfunctional means something isn't working right or isn't healthy. It's like when your phone won't turn on, or when friends always argue.
👶 For kids: When something isn't working right, like a broken toy or a family that doesn't get along, we say it's dysfunctional.
More Examples
She grew up in a dysfunctional family, which affected her ability to form healthy relationships.
The company's dysfunctional management style led to decreased productivity and low morale among employees.
The report highlighted the dysfunctional aspects of the healthcare system.
How It's Used
"The therapy aims to address dysfunctional family dynamics."
"A dysfunctional engine can cause a car to stall."
"Dysfunctional relationships are characterized by poor communication."
From *dys-* (Greek for 'bad' or 'difficult') + *functional* (relating to function). The word developed in the mid-20th century, initially in the context of engineering and then applied to social and psychological systems.
The term gained prominence in the mid-20th century, particularly in psychology and sociology to describe problematic family dynamics and social systems.
Memory tip
Imagine a *function* that's gone *dys-* (bad). Dysfunctional is when things aren't working as they should.
Word Origin
"*dys-* means 'bad' or 'difficult' and relates to the state of being the opposite of 'functional' (to work)."