Dysfunction
/ˌdɪsˈfʌŋk.ʃən/noun
A problem or abnormality that prevents something from working properly.
Did you know?Its first element, dys-, is the same ancient Greek prefix behind words for illness, difficulty, and bad fortune, while function comes from Latin for “perform” — so the word is basically a diagnosis in disguise.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
dys-
“bad, hard, painful, abnormal”
Late Latin
Latin
functio
“performance, execution, discharge of a duty”
16th Century
English
function
“an act of performing or carrying out a duty”
19th Century
English
dysfunction
“impaired or abnormal functioning”
Modern English
English
dysfunction
“a failure or abnormality in the way something works”