The process of removing function or making something unable to serve its intended purpose.
From 'defunctionalize' plus '-ation,' a suffix from Latin that creates abstract nouns from verbs. The word chains together multiple suffixes: de- + function + -alize + -ation.
This word shows how English builds complex terminology by stacking affixes like building blocks—what started as 'function' becomes 'defunctionalization' by adding four different pieces, each adding a layer of meaning.
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