noun

malfunction

mal-FUHNGK-shuhn

noun

A failure to work correctly, usually referring to equipment or a system.

"The plane was grounded due to a mechanical malfunction."

verb

To fail to work correctly.

"The smoke alarm malfunctioned and went off in the middle of the night."

"If the sensor malfunctions, the system shuts down automatically."

How to Use Malfunction

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishUsed for machines, devices, or systems that stop working properly.

Common pairings

a mechanical malfunction the equipment malfunctioned a technical malfunction

malfunctioned past tense, malfunctions plural, malfunctions singular

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Can you complete this real example?

The plane was grounded due to a mechanical _____.

From mal- ("bad, incorrect") plus "function."

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