breakdown

noun break·down \ ˈbrāk-ˌdau̇n \

Definition of breakdown

1 :the action or result of breaking down: such as

a :a failure to function

preventing a breakdown of the health-care system

b :failure to progress or have effect :disintegration

a breakdown of negotiations

c medicine :a complete loss of physical, mental, or emotional vitality :a physical, mental, or nervous collapse

d :the process of decomposing

the breakdown of water into hydrogen and oxygen

cellular breakdown

e :division into categories

a statistical breakdown of data

:classification; also :an account analyzed into categories

a budget breakdown

2 :a fast shuffling dance; also :music for such a dance

See breakdown defined for English-language learners

See breakdown defined for kids

Examples of breakdown in a Sentence

The factory has had frequent equipment breakdowns.
Both sides are to blame for the breakdown in communication.
The irretrievable breakdown of a marriage can be grounds for divorce.
trying to prevent a breakdown of the health-care system
trying to prevent breakdown of the health-care system
He suffered a breakdown after his wife died.

Recent Examples of breakdown from the Web

Here's a breakdown of FC Cincinnati's remaining schedule: • Saturday vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds (4 p.m.; Orange Out): Pittsburgh is tied for ninth place in the East and has a record of 8-8-9.

— patrick brennan, Cincinnati.com, "FC Cincinnati's road to the USL playoffs," 28 Aug. 2017
Besides airlines selling too many seats, passengers may get booted when a mechanical breakdown causes an airline to use a smaller aircraft, or when the plane's weight must be reduced for safe takeoff.

— chicagotribune.com, "After backlash, fewer are being bumped from U.S. flights," 8 Aug. 2017
The latest breakdown came in an 11-3 setback to the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday night.

— rustin dodd, kansascity, "Kennedy, defense falter in Royals’ 11-3 setback against the Cardinals," 7 Aug. 2017
Aguilera claimed a mental breakdown a few months ago, as her defense lawyer, Richard Gregg, negotiated a plea deal well below the 7-year sentencing guideline.

— david ovalle, miamiherald, "In DUI crash that maimed principal, judge pulls plea deal after driver late to court," 21 July 2017
The EMP Commission, an expert group set up by America’s Congress to study the threat, reckoned in 2008 that the first year of societal breakdown could finish off two-thirds of Americans.

— The Economist, "The disaster that could follow from a flash in the sky," 13 July 2017
Gaines said that the regular service and attention will cut down on customers' costs in the long run, perhaps preventing surprise breakdowns and big-ticket replacements.

— AL.com, "Gaines Plumbing owner seeks to boost his community," 10 July 2017
The breakdown: $100,000 for Santa Maria Community Services’ Lower Price Hill Collaborative, which provided counseling/coaching to in-school youth at risk of violence.

— sharon coolidge, Cincinnati.com, "Simpson, Cranley war over violence prevention money," 9 July 2017
So, here's the breakdown (percentages are rounded to the nearest integer)... ...for a grand total of 116 acts that are 100% dude.

— elizabeth logan, Glamour, "20 Years After Lilith Fair, How Much Play Do Female Artists Get at Music Festivals?," 6 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'breakdown.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of breakdown

1827

breakdown Synonyms

Synonyms

crack-up, nervous breakdown, tailspin

Related Words

frazzle, freak-out, meltdown; alarm (also alarum), anxiety, apprehension, disquiet; excitability, nervousness; disturbance; agitation, discomposure, perturbation; basket case

Near Antonyms

aplomb, calmness, composure, coolness, imperturbability, placidity, self-possession, sereneness, serenity, tranquillity (or tranquility), tranquilness

Other Psychology Terms

fetish, hypochondria, intelligence, mania, narcissism, neurosis, pathological, psychosis, schadenfreude, subliminal

break down

verb

Definition of break down

transitive verb

1 a :to cause to fall or collapse by breaking or shattering

b :to make ineffective

break down legal barriers

2 a :to divide into parts or categories

b :to separate (something, such as a chemical compound) into simpler substances :decompose

c :to take apart especially for storage or shipment and for later reassembling

intransitive verb

1 a :to stop functioning because of breakage or wear

b :to become inoperative or ineffective :fail

negotiations broke down

c :to fail in strength or vitality

her health broke down

d :to succumb to mental or emotional stress

broke down and cried

e :to lose one's resolve :give in

finally broke down and bought a computer

2 of horses :to severely injure the supporting ligament or bones of the fetlock joint

3 a :to be susceptible to or undergo analysis or subdivision

the statistics break down like this

b :to undergo decomposition

See break down defined for kids

Examples of break down in a Sentence

when presented with the pile of files, the first thing he did was to break them down by month, order within the month, and region
the enamel of a human tooth will begin to break down when exposed to sugar for too long

First Known Use of break down

14th century

break down Synonyms

Synonyms

assort, classify, categorize, class, codify, compartment, compartmentalize, digest, distinguish, distribute, grade, group, peg, place, range, rank, relegate, separate, sort, type

Antonyms

start (up)

Related Words

array, dispose, draw up, marshal (also marshall), order, organize, systematize; alphabetize, catalog (or catalogue), file, index, list, refer; pigeonhole, shelve; identify, recognize; cull, screen, set, sieve, sift, winnow; clump, cluster, colligate; recategorize, reclassify, regroup; subcategorize

Near Antonyms

confuse, disarrange, jumble, lump, mix (up), scramble; misclassify, missort, mistype

Synonym Discussion of break down

analyze, dissect, break down mean to divide a complex whole into its parts or elements. analyze suggests separating or distinguishing the component parts of something (such as a substance, a process, a situation) so as to discover its true nature or inner relationships.

- analyzed the collected data

dissect suggests a searching analysis by laying bare parts or pieces for individual scrutiny.

- commentators dissected every word of the speech

break down implies a reducing to simpler parts or divisions.

- break down the budget

BREAKDOWN Defined for English Language Learners

breakdown

noun

Definition of breakdown for English Language Learners

: a failure of a machine to function : an occurrence in which a machine (such as a car) stops working
: the failure of a relationship or of an effort to discuss something
: a failure that prevents a system from working properly

BREAKDOWN Defined for Kids

breakdown

noun break·down \ ˈbrāk-ˌdau̇n \

Definition of breakdown for Students

1 :a failure to function properly

2 :a sudden failure of mental or physical health

Medical Dictionary

breakdown

noun break·down \ ˈbrāk-ˌdau̇n \

medical Definition of breakdown

:the action or result of breaking down: as

a :a failure to function

b :a physical, mental, or nervous collapse

c :the process of decomposing

breakdown of food during digestion

breakdown

adjective

medical Definition of breakdown

:obtained or resulting from disintegration or decomposition of a substance

a breakdown product of purine

break down

transitive verb \ (ˈ)brāk-ˈdau̇n \

medical Definition of break down

:to separate (as a chemical compound) into simpler substances :decompose

intransitive verb

1 a :to stop functioning because of breakage or wear

b :to fail in strength or vitality

c :to succumb to mental or emotional stress

2 of horses :to severely injure the supporting ligament or bones of the fetlock joint

3 :to undergo decomposition

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First Known Use of breakdown

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Synonyms

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Other Psychology Terms

break down

Definition of break down

Examples of break down in a Sentence

First Known Use of break down

break down Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Synonym Discussion of break down

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BREAKDOWN Defined for English Language Learners

breakdown

Definition of breakdown for English Language Learners

BREAKDOWN Defined for Kids

breakdown

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Medical Dictionary

breakdown

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breakdown

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break down

medical Definition of break down

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