functional
Language: English
Part of speech: adj
Pronunciation: ipa: /ˈfʌŋkt͡ʃənəl/
ipa: /ˈfʌŋkt͡ʃnəl/
Forms: form: more functional
form: most functional
Etymology: From function + -al.
Senses: examples: text: While we assume that phonological subsyllabic units are functional prior to reading skill, we have not ruled out a possible interaction with the writing system.
ref: 2002, Ludo Verhoeven, Carsten Elbro, Pieter Reitsma, editors, Precursors of Functional Literacy:
glosses: In good working order.
examples: text: That sculpture is not merely artistic, but also functional: it can be used as a hatrack.
text: The two are often one and the same, says Walt Thompson, professor of kinesiology at Georgia State University and lead author of the ACSM survey – although functional fitness can apply to the younger generation as well.
ref: 2013 July 3, Jacque Wilson, “‘Functional fitness’ keeps seniors moving”, in CNN:
glosses: Useful; serving a purpose, fulfilling a function.
examples: text: A functional construction element generally must meet higher technical but lower aesthetical requirements.
glosses: Only for functional purposes, notably in architecture.
examples: text: functional responsibilities
glosses: Of or relating to one's role or office; official.
examples: text: The clinical differentiation between functional and organic disease is at times difficult to establish, because, presumptively, in the beginning, at least, all organic disease is preceded by a physiologic perversion, that is, functional alteration, which may or may not be apparent with our present diagnostic limitations. […] Though benign rhythmic disturbances, such as premature contractions or paroxysmal tachycardia, do occur, it is notoriously difficult and still the subject of argument whether these may be called functionally benign or whether they may prove to have organic significance. […] The lack of opportunity for the medical student to observe the functional states in the medical school clinics and hospital practice, because of lack of space, or interest in their care in intramural teaching, is, I believe, a most forceful argument for a period of extramural practice under intelligent tutelage.
ref: 1928 December 15, Frank J. Hirschboeck, “Treatment of Functional Heart Disease”, in The Journal of the American Medical Association, volume 91, number 24, →DOI, page 1852:
text: In our study of participants aged 18–39, increasing age was associated with improved functioning in laundry task and overall social functioning, encompassing prosocial activities, recreation, independence–competence, and employment. […] However, several longitudinal and cross-sectional studies indicate that these improvements tend to plateau by the late twenties, and may decline as individuals transition into middle adulthood (Clarke et al., 2021; Smith et al., 2012; Tomaszewski et al., 2025). These patterns suggest that while functional gains may be observed through early adulthood, they may not be maintained beyond the early thirties. Therefore, longitudinal studies extending into middle and late adulthood are critically needed to clarify how trajectories of activities of daily living and social functioning evolve throughout the lifespan.
ref: 2025 August 13, Müjdat Erarkadaş, Kübra Özmeral Erarkadaş, Şahika Gülen Şişmanlar, “Autism Spectrum Disorder Beyond Childhood: A Comprehensive Assessment of Activities of Daily Living and Social Functioning in Turkish Adults”, in Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, →DOI:
topics: human-sciences
medicine
physiology
psychology
sciences
glosses: Characterizing functioning in environment, being symptoms that do not presuppose alteration of organic structure.
topics: mathematics
sciences
glosses: Of or relating to a function or functions.
topics: computing
computing-theory
engineering
mathematics
natural-sciences
physical-sciences
sciences
synonyms: pure
antonyms: imperative
glosses: Having semantics defined purely in terms of mathematical functions, without side-effects.
Synonyms: word: functioning
word: working
word: utilitarian
word: functional
word: in working order
word: operational
Hypernyms: word: preserved
Hyponyms: algofunctional
crossfunctional
difunctional
hyperfunctional
hypofunctional
isofunctional
metafunctional
monofunctional
morphofunctional
myofunctional
organofunctional
parafunctional
semifunctional
subfunctional
ultrafunctional
Derived terms: afunctional
amphifunctional
anatomofunctional
antifunctional
bifunctional
biofunctional
biofunctionalization
cofunctional
ecofunctional
eigenfunctional
equifunctional
eufunctional
functional beverage
functional constituency
functional drink
functional equivalence
functional graph
functionalise
functionalism
functionalist
functionalistic
functionality
functionalization
functionalize
functional linguistics
functional load
functionally
functional music
functional necrophilia
functional training
functional water
fyborg
heptafunctional
heterofunctional
immunofunctional
interfunctional
malfunctional
monofunctional
multifunctional
neurofunctional
normofunctional
oligofunctional
pentafunctional
plurifunctional
polyfunctional
positive linear functional
prefunctional
sociofunctional
structural-functional
superfunctional
technofunctional
teleofunctional
tetrafunctional
trifunctional
unifunctional
Related terms: function
functional anatomy
functional application
functional bombing
functional constraint
functional decomposition
functional dependency
functional design
functional diagram
functional disorder
functional electrical stimulation
functional error recovery
functional failure
functional food
functional genomics
functional group
functional interleaving
functional magnetic resonance imaging
functional MR imaging
functional programming
functional psychology
functional requirement
functional reserve
functional residual capacity
functional root
functional specifications
functional switching circuit
functional unit
functional work
functionary
non-functional requirement
trivial functional dependency