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

Conservatives quickly lambasted Bondi for broken promises. —David Catanese, Miami Herald, 8 May 2025

In addition to his hands, Smith has an extensive injury history, including a broken fibula, a torn meniscus, a fractured wrist and a high-ankle sprain. —Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 8 May 2025

But at best, the cases will be a baby step, a small gesture toward fixing a broken feedback mechanism of public accountability. —David French, Mercury News, 6 May 2025

After his 2024 season ended prematurely because of a broken wrist on a hit by pitch, Paniagua returned to the diamond with force in ’25. —Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 6 May 2025

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

Rhymes for broken

• oaken
• spoken
• token
• woken
• awoken
• betoken
• heartbroken
• outspoken
• unbroken
• unspoken

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