A dysfunctional family is a family that doesn't work together very well. It's like a team where everyone is on different sides and can't agree on things. For example, the parents might argue a lot or not talk to each other at all. There might be some family members who do bad things, like lying or cheating, or who don't take care of themselves or are mean to each other. All of this can make it hard for the family to stay together and make decisions or have fun.