1
: violently separated into parts : shattered
broken windows
2
: damaged or altered by or as if by breaking (see break entry 1): such as
a
: having undergone or been subjected to fracture
a broken leg
b
: not working properly
a broken camera
c
of land surfaces
: being irregular, interrupted, or full of obstacles
a long broken ridge
d
: violated by transgression : not kept or honored
a broken promise
e
: discontinuous, interrupted
a broken sleep
f
: disrupted by change
g
of a tulip flower
: having an irregular, streaked, or blotched pattern especially from virus infection
3
4
a
: cut off : disconnected
spoke a few broken words
b
: imperfectly spoken or written
broken English
5
: not complete or full
a broken bale of hay
6
: disunited by divorce, separation, or desertion of one parent
children from broken homes
a broken family
brokenly
adverb
Examples of broken in a Sentence
The street was covered with broken glass.
a broken vase that could not be repaired
Recent Examples on the Web
The son was treated for a broken arm, but his father died from his injuries.
—
Anna McAllister, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2026
During his visit, Willick had gone to the site of the attack and surveyed the ruins, which were strewn with children’s drawings and broken crayons.
—Eyal Press, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
Ivey spent most of his time in Chicago away from his teammates while rehabilitating his knee, which was sore due to a lack of muscle strength as a direct effect of his long-term recovery from the broken leg.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
Gertie’s broken tail was a desperate and heartbreaking sign of her relief and gratitude, the news release stated.
—News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for broken
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Anna McAllister, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2026
During his visit, Willick had gone to the site of the attack and surveyed the ruins, which were strewn with children’s drawings and broken crayons.
—Eyal Press, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
Ivey spent most of his time in Chicago away from his teammates while rehabilitating his knee, which was sore due to a lack of muscle strength as a direct effect of his long-term recovery from the broken leg.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
Gertie’s broken tail was a desperate and heartbreaking sign of her relief and gratitude, the news release stated.
—News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for broken
Cite this Entry
“Broken.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/broken. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
broken
adjective
bro·ken
ˈbrō-kən 
1
: shattered into pieces
broken glass
2
a
: rough entry 1 sense 1a, uneven
broken terrain
b
: having gaps or breaks
a broken line
3
: not kept
a broken promise
4
: subdued completely
a broken spirit
5
: imperfectly spoken
broken English
6
: having undergone fracture
a broken leg
7
: having one parent missing (as because of divorce)
children from broken homes
brokenly
adverb
Medical Definition
broken
adjective
bro·ken
ˈbrō-kən
: having undergone or been subjected to fracture
a broken leg
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