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
Adjective
The street was covered with broken glass.
a broken vase that could not be repaired
Recent Examples on the Web
Joan Murray, CBS News, 13 June 2026
The foundation’s demise left a trail of broken trust throughout the region, particularly among survivors and families.
—Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 June 2026
Now, people have been crammed into around 40 percent of the space left to them — sheltering among broken buildings, rubble and mounting solid waste.
—Sarah Ferguson, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Old Coats And Scarfs Coat closets often contain jackets that no longer fit, broken umbrellas, and mismatched scarves and gloves.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for broken
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Adjective
The current effort is a different picture from two and a half years ago, when CBS Miami documented persistent problems with broken escalators and moving sidewalks.
—Joan Murray, CBS News, 13 June 2026
The foundation’s demise left a trail of broken trust throughout the region, particularly among survivors and families.
—Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 June 2026
Now, people have been crammed into around 40 percent of the space left to them — sheltering among broken buildings, rubble and mounting solid waste.
—Sarah Ferguson, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Old Coats And Scarfs Coat closets often contain jackets that no longer fit, broken umbrellas, and mismatched scarves and gloves.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 12 June 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 14 Jun. 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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