broken

adjective

bro·​ken ˈbrō-kən 

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

a

: made weak or infirm

his old, broken body

b

: subdued completely : crushed, sorrowful

a broken heart

a broken spirit

c

: bankrupt

d

: reduced in rank

was broken from sergeant to private

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

brokenness

ˈbrō-kə(n)-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• busted
• fractured
• fragmented
• shattered
• smashed

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

At the scene, authorities found blood and Butler's glasses in the roadway near a broken hammer in addition to a pistol magazine inside Kelley's purse, but no pistol was found. —USA TODAY, 25 Apr. 2024

During the fest’s Weekend Two on Sunday night, the rapper went to the hospital with a broken foot after jumping off the stage at the Sahara Tent. —Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 24 Apr. 2024

Two of the injured crew members were hospitalized for their injuries, per the report, and some experienced broken bones. —Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 24 Apr. 2024

An oversimplified summary: Born poor and from a broken family in Tennessee, the teenage Anna-Mae Bullock was plucked by early rock pioneer Ike Turner (Deon Releford-Lee) into his band and renamed Tina Turner. —Jim Higgins, Journal Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2024

Supporters of the policy are calling it a creative solution to fix a broken system. —Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 23 Apr. 2024

The enactment of the SAFER Banking Act would positively change the broken cannabis financial ecosystem that exists today. —Alissa Jubelirer, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2024

The fourth-year center, who missed long stretches due to a groin injury and a broken ankle, put up five points in his past five outings, each stronger than the last. —Andrew Knoll, Orange County Register, 14 Apr. 2024

At the same time, the generalist CEO needs to be someone who’s headed manufacturing businesses and can delve into the details to tell if the engine’s sound or broken. —Shawn Tully, Fortune, 13 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English brocen, from past participle of brecan to break

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing broken

• broken-down
• broken-field
• broken home
• broken-winded
• like a broken record
• sounds like a broken record
• wind-broken

Kids 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

brokenness

-kən-(n)əs 

noun

Medical Definition

broken

adjective

bro·​ken ˈbrō-kən 

: having undergone or been subjected to fracture

a broken leg

Legal Definition

broken

past participle of break