Fault
Fault noun - A defect in character.
Malfunction is a synonym for fault in interruption topic. In some cases you can use "Malfunction" instead a noun "Fault", when it comes to topics like bug, abnormality.
Malfunction
Malfunction noun - A failure to function normally.
Fault is a synonym for malfunction in crash topic. You can use "Fault" instead a noun "Malfunction", if it concerns topics such as interruption, bug, breakdown, abnormality.
Nearby Words: malfunctioning, malfunctioned
How words are described
| similar | similar fault | similar malfunction |
| single | single fault | single malfunction |
| actual | actual fault | actual malfunction |
| real | real fault | real malfunction |
| Other adjectives: constant, serious, unfortunate, slight, bad, potential, major, mechanical, minor, intermittent, electrical, technical, low-level. | ||
Common collocations
Both words in one sentence
- Spock torturing the transporter technician with the "agonizer" device simply for allowing the malfunction to happen — despite the fact that it wasn't the technician's fault.
Source: You Have Failed Me - Never My Fault: Fritter passes the buck onto another teammate for messing up the mission because of a radio malfunction that blew their cover when he was already spotted first by the big bad.
Source: Webcomic / Dumm Comics
Cite this Source
Malfunction and Fault. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 16, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/fault/malfunction
Fault & Malfunction. N.p., 2016. Web. 16 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/fault/malfunction>.
Malfunction or Fault. 2016. Accessed August 16, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/fault/malfunction.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "fault" and "malfunction" have occurred on timeline