nonfunctionally

Nonfunctionally is an adverb formed from the adjective nonfunctional. It describes the manner in which something does not function or operates in a nonfunctional way. The term is chiefly found in technical, analytical, or evaluative writing where it is used to describe failures or inadequacies without asserting that the object is entirely unusable.

Etymology and usage notes: Nonfunctionally derives from nonfunctional, with the common adverbial suffix -ly. While productive, it is relatively rare in everyday language. In many contexts, writers prefer the adjective nonfunctional or the noun nonfunctionality, or they rephrase to say that something is not functioning or is not operating as intended.

Typical usage: It is often used to report observations in testing, evaluation, or quality assurance. For example, The device operated nonfunctionally under load, failing to complete cycles. The procedure was applied nonfunctionally, addressing symptoms rather than root causes. Because it is less common, some style guides discourage its use in favor of clearer phrasing such as not functioning or nonfunctional behavior.

Relation to related terms: Nonfunctional is the standard adjective in engineering and software to describe capabilities that do not meet requirements (such as reliability or usability). Nonfunctionality is the corresponding noun, referring to the state of not functioning. Nonfunctionally remains a niche adverb for describing how something fails to function.

See also: nonfunctional, nonfunctionality, not functioning.