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Showing results for malfunction. Search instead for multifunctiona.
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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Volatility was contained, and trading was orderly—not a malfunction but the machine doing its job.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026

When gene activation goes wrong, cells can malfunction and contribute to diseases, including cancer.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 23, 2026

We’ve had water treatment failures, chemical imbalances brought on by malfunction, E. coli contamination, and the people of Flint, Michigan, of course, appreciate the criticality of clean water better than anyone in the country.

From Slate ● Aug. 19, 2026

“A fireworks malfunction did occur during last night’s post-match celebration at Angel City FC’s game vs. Orlando at BMO Stadium,” the team said in a statement to The Times.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 5, 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

Its report said Nintendo had "commented only in 2020, and not as soon as it was aware of the malfunctions", the Commerce Ministry and the court in Nanterre, outside Paris, said in a statement.

From Barron's ● Jun. 8, 2026

Tech companies are making progress in fixing humanoid runners’ malfunctions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 20, 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

On one wall, flashers and safety overrides blinked to indicate that there were electric malfunctions and topside failures, probably from having the conning deck go under.

From "Ship Breaker" by Paolo Bacigalupi

The transmission malfunctioned in his 1978 boat, Miss Julie, which he also uses for crabbing.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

Its woes hit a nadir last week when a radio communications system malfunctioned, crippling nationwide for several hours and leaving thousands of passengers stranded in trains.

From Barron's ● Jun. 30, 2026

One of Starship's engines also malfunctioned, which forced a slightly longer burn from the remaining five to compensate.

From BBC ● May 23, 2026

According to the MMWR, investigators said the cooling tower had malfunctioned, leading to either very little or no injection of chemicals that would prevent bacterial growth.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 18, 2026

Our server reports it will not just be for a fuel stop—some part has malfunctioned and must be replaced.

From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins

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

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

A young man from Tatooine sets out to find his malfunctioning droid and ends up saving the galaxy.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026

But she says she has never handled so many iPhones with fried motherboards and malfunctioning touch screens.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026

That night, Cypriot military personnel reported a mysterious malfunctioning of their radar screens.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides




Vocabulary lists containing malfunction


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