What does malformation mean?
A malformation is an abnormal or defective formation, most often used in medicine to describe a structural problem that develops in an organ or body part, usually before birth. The word can refer to a congenital malformation, such as an abnormal heart formation, and may also describe a broader irregularity in development. In general writing, it is less common than the more general terms “deformity,” “abnormality,” or “defect,” but it is especially appropriate when the emphasis is on defective formation rather than on a change in an already formed structure. Its formation from “mal-” meaning bad or defective and “formation” makes the meaning transparent: a malformation is a bad or defective formation. The word is consequently formal and technical, especially in medical, biological, and developmental contexts.
nounAn abnormal or defective formation of a body structure, especially one occurring during development. The term can also refer more generally to a distorted or defective form.
- An abnormal or defective formation of an anatomical structure, especially during embryonic development.
- A defective or distorted form or arrangement, more generally.
"The scan revealed a malformation in the developing heart."
"Congenital heart defects are a type of malformation that can require surgery."
"The editor corrected a malformation in the layout of the manuscript."
Used for multiple instances of abnormal or defective formation.
"Several malformations were identified in the developing fetus."
A malformation is not merely an unusual shape: it describes a development in which a body structure forms abnormally.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does malformation come from?
“Malformation” was formed in English from the combining form “mal-,” meaning bad, defective, or abnormal, and “formation,” from Latin formatio, a forming or shaping. The underlying idea appears in related English words such as “malformed” and “malfunction,” which likewise combine a negative prefix with a term referring to a process or condition. Its medical sense developed as a term for defective structural development, while its general sense refers to a distorted or improperly arranged form.
Related word forms
How malformation is actually used
In medicine, the term is usually used for an abnormal structural development and is often paired with an anatomical location, such as a spinal or cardiac malformation. In nonmedical contexts, it can describe any seriously defective or distorted form.