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Malformed: meaning, definitions and examples

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malformed

 

[ mælˈfɔrmd ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

technical issues

Malformed refers to something that has been incorrectly formed or structured. This term is often used in computing and data processing, particularly when analyzing documents, data files, or requests that do not conform to the expected format. When an object is malformed, it can lead to errors and unexpected behavior in systems. Examples include malformed HTML code or a malformed JSON string, which can prevent web pages or applications from functioning properly.

Synonyms

flawed, improper, incorrect.

Examples of usage

  • The server returned an error due to a malformed request.
  • We need to fix this malformed XML before continuing.
  • The error message indicated that the JSON was malformed.

Translations

Translations of the word "malformed" in other languages:

🇵🇹 malformado

🇮🇳 गलत रूप में

🇩🇪 fehlerhaft

🇮🇩 cacat

🇺🇦 деформований

🇵🇱 zniekształcony

🇯🇵 形が崩れた

🇫🇷 malformé

🇪🇸 malformado

🇹🇷 bozuk

🇰🇷 형태가 잘못된

🇸🇦 مشوه

🇨🇿 malformovaný

🇸🇰 malformovaný

🇨🇳 畸形的

🇸🇮 malformiran

🇮🇸 sniðin rangt

🇰🇿 бұзылған

🇬🇪 გაფუჭებული

🇦🇿 səhv qurulmuş

🇲🇽 malformado

Etymology

The word 'malformed' is derived from the combination of the prefix 'mal-', meaning 'bad' or 'wrong', and the verb 'form', which comes from the Latin 'forma', meaning 'shape' or 'appearance'. This formation reflects the term's focus on something that has been improperly shaped or structured. Its usage can be traced back to the early 19th century, wherein it began to appear in legal and technical texts to describe inadequacies in form or structure. Malformed is particularly prevalent in discussions of programming and data formats, where the integrity of structure is integral to functionality. Over the years, as technology has evolved, so too has the application of the term, becoming increasingly relevant in the context of software development, web design, and database management.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #28,631, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.