What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
dysfunction
Example
The patient was diagnosed with erectile dysfunction. [dysfunction: noun]
Example
The company's dysfunction was caused by poor communication among team members. [dysfunction: noun]
malfunction
Example
The printer malfunctioned and printed out blank pages. [malfunction: verb]
Example
The airplane's malfunctioning engine caused the flight to be delayed. [malfunctioning: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Malfunction is more commonly used than dysfunction in everyday language, particularly in technical or engineering contexts. Dysfunction is more specialized and is typically used in medical or social contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between dysfunction and malfunction?
Both dysfunction and malfunction are neutral in terms of formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
