Definition

Not working properly or not functioning as it should.

Example

The dysfunctional family struggled to communicate with each other.

Conversation

Have you ever noticed how our group can be a bit dysfunctional?

Yeah, sometimes it feels like we’re not all on the same page.

Exactly! It’s like we need to figure out how to work better together.

For sure, maybe a group chat could help us communicate more effectively.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Dysfunctional → It is formed from "dys-" (meaning bad or difficult) and "function" (from Latin "functio", meaning performance or execution). The word describes something that is not functioning properly or is impaired in its performance.

Memory Tip

Think of 'dys-' meaning bad and 'function' referring to performance — so dysfunctional means something that is performing badly.

Visually Confused Words