experience a malfunction

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "experience a malfunction" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when describing a situation where a device or system fails to operate as intended. For example, "The machine may experience a malfunction during operation." Alternative expressions include "encounter a malfunction" and "suffer a malfunction."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"Should one of the Transit vans experience a malfunction that triggers a warning light, the platform will be able to start routing requests away from that vehicle to other Transits in service – allowing another shuttle to redeploy to keep all riders on schedule," the company explains.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

That is not inconceivable, especially as Odyssey experienced a malfunction two months ago with one of three spinning wheels used to orient the spacecraft.

The New York Times

Australian authorities lodged a high-profile case against Apple this year, after iPhone and iPad customers experienced a malfunction that rendered phones useless if it detects that a repair has been carried out by a non-Apple technician.

The Guardian - Tech

There were no injuries, but the aircraft was written off.In 2005, a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 experienced a malfunction with one of the sensors feeding data to the autopilots.

The Economist

Three days later, on 24 July, U-30 returned to Lorient, having experienced a malfunction in one of her engines.

Wikipedia

Crews tried a third time after winds died down, but the rocket experienced a malfunction with a fuel valve, possibly becoming "cold and sluggish" during the delay.

Los Angeles Times

Furthermore, OMI has experienced a malfunction that renders half the pixels it provides unusable, Lamsal says.

Environmental Health Perspectives

The majority of patients not experiencing a malfunction (88%) had an infusion duration of 22 24 h, vs 31.8% in patients experiencing a pump malfunction.

British Journal of Cancer

Overall, there was a trend towards increased adverse events in patients who experienced a malfunction (97 out of 155 vs 452 out of 825 patients; χ-test; P=0.0729).

British Journal of Cancer

The incidence of grade 3/4 neutropenia was significantly higher in patients experiencing a malfunction (83 out of 155 (53.5%) vs 328 out of 825 (39.8%) patients, respectively; P=0.0009).

British Journal of Cancer

Fluoropyrimidine-associated grade 3/4 toxicity was increased in FOLFOX-4-treated patients experiencing a malfunction compared with those who did not (97 out of 155 vs 452 out of 825 patients), predominantly with increased grade 3/4 neutropenia (53.5% vs 39.8%).

British Journal of Cancer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "experience a malfunction", ensure the subject is something that can logically 'experience' something, such as a system, device, or machine. For human subjects, rephrase to indicate they experienced the effects of a malfunction.

Common error

Avoid saying a person "experienced a malfunction". Instead, state that a device or system experienced the malfunction, and then describe how that malfunction affected the person. For example, instead of "The pilot experienced a malfunction", say "The plane experienced a malfunction, causing the pilot to take emergency measures."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "experience a malfunction" functions as a verb phrase + noun construction, indicating that a subject (typically a machine or system) is undergoing a state of operational failure. Ludwig AI confirms that this is grammatically correct and provides examples showing its use across different contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

31%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Academia

8%

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "experience a malfunction" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe when a system, device, or machine fails to operate as intended. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it’s most commonly found in news and media, scientific articles, and wiki entries, indicating its broad applicability across different contexts. While the phrase is relatively uncommon, it serves the clear purpose of reporting a technical issue or failure. The best practice is to use it for non-human subjects and rephrase if the subject is a person, focusing instead on the effects of the malfunction. Alternative phrases include “encounter a fault” or “suffer a breakdown”, offering slight variations in tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

encounter a fault

Replaces "experience" with "encounter" and "malfunction" with "fault", slightly changing the tone but maintaining the core meaning.

malfunction occurred

Changes the phrase from describing experiencing the malfunction to stating that the malfunction happened.

suffer a breakdown

Uses "suffer" in place of "experience" and "breakdown" instead of "malfunction", implying a more severe failure.

technical fault arose

Focuses specifically on technical faults, implying a problem with machinery or systems.

develop a problem

Substitutes "experience" with "develop" and "malfunction" with "problem", offering a more general way to describe an issue arising.

system failure happened

Emphasizes that there was a system failure, rather than focusing on the act of experiencing it.

undergo a failure

Replaces "experience" with "undergo" and "malfunction" with "failure", providing a slightly more formal tone.

develop a glitch

Similar to "develop a problem", but "glitch" implies a minor or temporary malfunction.

have a defect

Replaces the verb "experience" with "have", shifting the focus to the existence of the defect itself.

run into trouble

Offers a more idiomatic and less technical way to express encountering a problem or malfunction.

FAQs

What does it mean to "experience a malfunction"?

To "experience a malfunction" means that a device, system, or piece of equipment has stopped working correctly or is not functioning as intended.

What are some synonyms for "experience a malfunction"?

Alternatives include "encounter a fault", "suffer a breakdown", or "develop a problem" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say a person "experienced a malfunction"?

While grammatically correct, it's more accurate to say a device or system experienced the malfunction, and then describe how that malfunction affected the person. For example, “the device malfunctioned, causing the user to…”. Using something like “develop a problem” could be more suitable when you are talking about a person.

How can I use "experience a malfunction" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a system or device that is not working as it should. For instance, "The aircraft experienced a malfunction in its navigation system" or "The machine may encounter a fault during the procedure."