has malfunctioned

USAGE SUMMARY

'has malfunctioned' is correct and can be used in written English.
An example sentence might be: "The photocopier has malfunctioned and needs to be serviced."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

The government has malfunctioned.

The Guardian

It has malfunctioned several times, but with no reported injuries.

The New York Times - Arts

We've resigned ourselves to the possibility that his collar has malfunctioned.

The New York Times

It's either: we don't question your norms, but your system has malfunctioned.

The Guardian

Other times when his serve has malfunctioned, Dent said, he has tried to do his best imitation of a baseliner.

The New York Times

Satisfied that the apparatus is ready, they turn to the last remaining detail: a finicky instrument for measuring CO2 released from soil has malfunctioned.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

Residents said the boiler had malfunctioned last week.

The New York Times

She said the machine must have malfunctioned.

The New York Times

(It may have malfunctioned, or the assailants may have been lucky and missed it).

The New Yorker

The Sony Corporation said some of its new PlayStation2 video game consoles had malfunctioned.

The New York Times

But because the night was so cold, the machine had malfunctioned.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing technical issues, use "has malfunctioned" to clearly indicate that something is not working correctly due to a fault or defect.

Common error

While "has malfunctioned" is appropriate for technical or formal descriptions, avoid using it in casual conversations where simpler phrases like "isn't working" or "is broken" are more suitable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has malfunctioned" functions as a present perfect verb phrase, indicating that something experienced a failure in its function, with the present result being its current non-operational state. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Wiki

16%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has malfunctioned" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to indicate that something is not working correctly due to an internal failure. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability in English. It functions as a present perfect verb phrase, primarily serving to report technical issues or problems across various contexts, as exemplified by the real-world examples. The phrase's register is generally neutral, making it appropriate for news reports, technical documentation, and professional communication, while simpler alternatives may be more suitable for informal conversations. While it's versatile, remember to consider the audience and context to ensure the most effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is out of order

Replaces "has malfunctioned" with a common expression for being temporarily unusable.

is not functioning

Uses a more formal tone to indicate that something isn't working.

has stopped working

Indicates a complete cessation of function.

is defective

Highlights a flaw in the item causing it not to work.

is broken

A simple and direct way to say something doesn't work.

failed to operate

More technical and formal way of saying something did not work as expected.

is non-operational

A formal and technical term to describe something that cannot be operated.

is acting up

Suggests intermittent or unpredictable malfunctions.

isn't working properly

Indicates that something is working, but not as it should.

is on the blink

Informal way of saying something is malfunctioning or about to fail.

FAQs

How to use "has malfunctioned" in a sentence?

You can use "has malfunctioned" to describe the state of a device or system that is not working correctly. For example, "The security system "has malfunctioned"." or "The equipment "has malfunctioned"."

What can I say instead of "has malfunctioned"?

You can use alternatives like "is out of order", "is not functioning", or "is broken" depending on the context.

Is "has malfunctioned" formal or informal?

"Has malfunctioned" is generally considered a neutral to slightly formal expression. In very informal contexts, simpler alternatives like "isn't working" might be more appropriate.

What's the difference between "has malfunctioned" and "had malfunctioned"?

"Has malfunctioned" refers to a current state resulting from a past event, while "had malfunctioned" refers to a state that existed in the past before another past event. For example, "The device "has malfunctioned", so we can't use it now" versus "The device "had malfunctioned" before we even started the experiment."