1A breakdown or failure of a machine or piece of equipment, causing it to stop working properly.
洗濯機が故障して、修理を頼んだ。
The washing machine broke down, so I called for a repair.
エレベーターが故障中で、階段を使うしかなかった。
The elevator was out of order, so I had no choice but to use the stairs.
サーバーの故障でウェブサイトが一時見られなくなった。
A server failure made the website inaccessible for a while.
2An injury to a part of the body, often used for athletes' injuries.
あの投手は肩を故障して今シーズンは戦線離脱している。
That pitcher injured his shoulder and is out for the season.
膝を故障してから、走るのが怖くなった。
Ever since I injured my knee, I've been afraid to run.
3A problem or hitch that hinders the progress of something.
手続きに何か故障があったらしく、審査が止まっている。
There seems to have been some hitch in the paperwork, and the review has stalled.
計画に故障が生じないよう、事前に何度も確認した。
We checked repeatedly beforehand to make sure no problems would arise in the plan.
4An objection or protest. This is an archaic, literary usage found in old legal/formal writing; it is essentially never used in everyday modern Japanese, where 異議 or 抗議 would be used instead.