icebreaker

noun

ice·break·er | \ ˈīs-ˌbrā-kər

Definition of icebreaker

1 : a ship equipped (as with a reinforced bow) to make and maintain a channel through ice

2 : something that is done or said to get through the first difficulties in starting a conversation or discussion Roughly half of all Americans are invested in the market these days, and stock holdings have replaced politics, weather and sports as the go-to conversational icebreaker.— Adam Bryant … she also pays particular attention to icebreakers that relax guests and get them rubbing elbows, such as a cruise up the Colorado River, where guests nibble on hors d'oeuvres and sip Fall Creek wines.— Steve Heimoff — see also break the ice at break entry 1

Examples of icebreaker in a Sentence

using an old joke as a conversational icebreaker

Recent Examples on the Web

Image The Mackinaw, commissioned in 2006, is the largest American icebreaker on the Great Lakes. — New York Times, "In the Great Lakes, They’re Battling Ice, and Time. Take a Look.," 18 Jan. 2018 The icebreaker’s sound is overwhelming and unrelenting, like a chain saw on a boulder. — New York Times, "In the Great Lakes, They’re Battling Ice, and Time. Take a Look.," 18 Jan. 2018 The Soviet Union’s first nuclear surface ship was an icebreaker. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "China Is Planning a Nuclear-Powered Icebreaker," 25 June 2018 Today Russia has 41 icebreakers with at least 8 more on the way. — David Hambling, Popular Mechanics, "Does the U.S. Stand a Chance Against Russia's Icebreakers?," 4 Apr. 2018 The app will suggest icebreakers to get the convo started. — Kara Wahlgren, Seventeen, "The 7 Best Dating Apps for Teens," 13 Nov. 2018 The line also is just one of two companies offering regularly scheduled sailings to the North Pole, an epic journey of two weeks onboard the storied Russian nuclear icebreaker 50 Years of Victory. — Condé Nast Traveler, "The Best Cruise Lines in the World: 2018 Readers' Choice Awards," 9 Oct. 2018 The app’s incorporation of icebreaker questions and more detailed profiles made her connections feel more substantial. — Kari Paul, WSJ, "Tired of Swiping Right, Some Singles Try Slow Dating," 28 Aug. 2018 American spies used it as an icebreaker in foreign countries. — Tiffany Hsu, The Seattle Times, "When Sears was everywhere: espionage, politics and fine art," 15 Oct. 2018

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