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Showing results for malfunction. Search instead for garfunktion.
Definitions

malfunction

[mal-fuhngk-shuhn] / mælˈfʌŋk ʃən /


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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The trouble isn’t that every digital convenience is destined to malfunction.

From Salon ● Oct. 17, 2026

When these structures malfunction, they can contribute to several diseases, many of them rare.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 13, 2026

A cardiac arrest happens when an electrical malfunction stops the heart from beating and circulating blood to the brain and vital organs - often causing permanent brain damage within minutes and sudden death.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

After a delay for a PitchCom malfunction, Skubal gave up a leadoff double to Detroit’s Gleyber Torres on a fastball down the middle.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 29, 2026

So there they are, three classic preconditions of a plane crash, the same three that set the stage for Avianca 052: a minor technical malfunction; bad weather; and a tired pilot.

From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell

When spots in premium-format theaters went on sale last week, ticketing sites including Fandango and AMC Theatres faced a bottleneck of traffic that resulted in buyers reporting malfunctions and marathon waits.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026

In a tongue-in-cheek post to Instagram, Glass Animals - best known for their 2020 sleeper-hit Heat Waves - claimed culpability for the lunar lavatory malfunctions.

From BBC ● Apr. 10, 2026

Those recorded cues act as a fail-safe against technical malfunctions during the broadcast, though the orchestra aims to play everything live.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 13, 2026

Satellites passing through this region are exposed to elevated levels of radiation, increasing the risk of technical malfunctions, hardware damage, and even temporary outages.

From Science Daily ● Feb. 25, 2026

“Whenever an engine malfunctions, I like to tap-dance around it. Works every time.”

From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan

The truck's air conditioning malfunctioned, and the temperature inside soared as it drove north to San Antonio, Texas.

From Barron's ● Oct. 20, 2026

The US military said one of its underwater drones "malfunctioned" and was not carrying any sensitive data.

From Barron's ● Sep. 8, 2026

German officials said Berlin had calibrated its response to the Leipzig incident in part to reflect the fact that the drones had malfunctioned and caused no damage or victims.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026

Roa later told authorities that he had planned to attend the UFC event only as a protester, but his vehicle malfunctioned and he had to return home.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 17, 2026

When the equipment abruptly malfunctioned, Jim went on alone, hitting a few sour notes.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French

Several of these processes involve malfunctioning mitochondria, the tiny structures responsible for producing much of a cell's energy.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 27, 2026

The story, as it were, centers on a woman named Lisa Blupey, portrayed by stage veteran Jessica Vosk, who runs a small business selling socks but is drowning in financial statements and malfunctioning A.I.-powered platforms.

From Slate ● Oct. 1, 2026

A manager suggested her equipment might be malfunctioning or needed to be recalibrated, cleaned or swapped out, but she insisted on filing a report, Dixon said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026

It started appearing in my parents’ pantry in Costco two-packs, usually beside gigantic cases of bottled water, enough paper towels to absorb a malfunctioning sprinkler system and gallon-sized jugs of olive oil.

From Salon ● Sep. 20, 2026

“You know,” he said, “the picture quality isn’t that good. Neither is the sound. And the projector’s been malfunctioning recently. Maybe your mother is right. Maybe you can think of another present, Mariam jo.”

From "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini


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