Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

function

/ˈfʌŋkʃən/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: 4.78 in modern English

Syllables: func-tion
IPA: /ˈfʌŋkʃən/

13

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

2

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

What something does or is used for.

noun

A professional or official position.

noun

An official or social occasion.

noun

An official or social occasion.

Slang

noun

Something which is dependent on or stems from another thing; a result or concomitant.

noun

A relation where one thing is dependent on another for its existence, value, or significance.

noun

A relation in which each element of the domain is associated with exactly one element of the codomain.

noun

A routine that receives zero or more arguments and may return a result.

Example Sentences

"Although they serve the same function across the plant, animal and fungal kingdoms, sperm and eggs vary wildly in their structure and biochemistry, even among closely related species. […] Many genes with reproductive roles also have antibacterial and immune functions, which indicate that the threat of microbial attack on the sperm or egg may be a major influence on rapid evolution during reproduction."
"Glu Mobile, who realigned its workforce towards centralized GaaS functions last year, announced earlier this month that it will shut down GameSpy Technology on May 31. The service provides multiplayer functionality for dozens of games on consoles, computers and mobile devices."
"Our hotel is hosting a function for all the warehouse workers on the night of April 18."
"Though most of the cases here cover European encounters with non-Europeans, it is not the intention of the book to give the impression that genocide is a function of European colonialism and imperialism alone."
"Although the laying workers functioned in a queenlike manner, they were unable to suppress ovarian development as effectively as the queen."

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bʰewg-der. Proto-Italic *fungōr Latin fungor Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *-Hō Proto-Indo-European *-tiHō Proto-Italic *-tiō Latin -tiō Latin fūnctiō Old French fonction Middle French functionbor. English function From Middle French function, from Old French fonction, from Latin functiō (“performance, execution”), from functus, perfect participle of fungor (“to perform, execute, discharge”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰewg- (“to enjoy”).

Origin

Source language: Middle French

Word Breakdown

Root: *bʰewg-, function, fonction, functiō

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈfʌŋkʃən/
British English: /ˈfʌŋ(k)ʃən/

Usage

Inflected Forms

functions (plural) functions (present, singular) functioning (participle, present) functioned (participle, past) functioned (past)

Derived Forms

afunction bifunction bifunctional biofunction cofunction cryptofunction difunctional disfunction dysfunction endofunction functional functionalism

Phrases

Ackermann function activation function adaptive-control function analytical function generator anatomy of function antihyperbolic function antitrigonometric function arc-hyperbolic function

Frequently Paired Words

functor fungible functional dysfunction dysfunctional

Synonyms

aim intention purpose role use occupation office part affair occasion social occasion social function

Antonyms

malfunction

Rhymes With

junction conjunction dysfunction injunction malfunction compunction choice function switching function disjunction unction digamma function

Questions

How do you pronounce function?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈfʌŋkʃən/.
What does function mean?: What something does or is used for.
Where does function come from?: It is traced to Middle French.

How to pronounce function

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “function”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈfʌŋkʃən/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “function”.
Repeat and practice — Say “function” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.