Malfunctions

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Failures or errors that prevent proper operation of equipment
2. Instances when equipment or systems do not operate as intended
3. Occurrences where a device or mechanism stops functioning properly

Etymology: "Malfunctions" is the plural of "malfunction," a noun for a failure to work properly. The word is built from the prefix "mal-," meaning "bad" or "incorrect," which comes from Latin "malus," and "function," which comes from Latin "functio," meaning performance or execution. Put together, the parts describe a function performed badly or not at all. Because the parts are so transparent, the formation is a plain compound rather than a coinage with a famous author. English has long used "mal-" in words like "malformation," "malnutrition," and "malpractice," so "malfunction" follows an existing pattern, and its plural simply names several such breakdowns at once.

Synonyms: failures, breakdowns, defects

Antonyms: functions, operates, works