dysfunction

dysfunction

Med any disturbance or abnormality in the function of an organ or part

Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

dysfunction

or

disfunction

any social activity seen as making a negative contribution to the maintenance or effective working of a functioning SOCIAL SYSTEM. See FUNCTIONALISM.

Collins Dictionary of Sociology, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2000

dysfunction

[‚dis′fəŋk·shən]

(medicine)

Impaired or abnormal functioning of a body part.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.