abnormality; unusual condition; something wrong
Refers to an abnormal state, disorder, or trouble, often in medical, technical, or formal contexts. Used when something is not in its normal condition.
An abnormality was found in the machine.
If you feel something wrong with your body, please consult a doctor immediately.
There is something wrong with the car's engine.
The examination found nothing abnormal.
An abnormality was found in the machine during the routine inspection.
Overwork can sometimes cause abnormal conditions in the body.
故障 specifically means a mechanical breakdown or malfunction, whereas 異状 is broader and can describe any abnormal condition, not just equipment failure.
異状 is a general word for 'something abnormal' usable in many contexts, while 別条 is almost always restricted to the fixed phrase 別条がない meaning 'nothing wrong'.
正常 describes a normal, healthy, or expected state, the direct opposite of 異状, which describes an abnormal or troubled state.
異状 and 異常 are both read いじょう and both mean 'abnormal', but 異状 specifically names an abnormal condition or state (often medical/mechanical, as in 異状なし), while 異常 is the more general, common word for 'abnormal' usable as a noun or na-adjective in everyday contexts.
unnatural death
Compound of 異 (i, 'different; unusual') and 状 (jō, 'condition; state'). The spelling 異状 is used to distinguish physical or concrete abnormalities from the more general 異常.