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
The street was covered with broken glass.
a broken vase that could not be repaired
Recent Examples on the Web
She was discovered near a Dubai road with several injuries, including a broken spine and multiple broken limbs, per the outlet.
—
Bailey Richards, People.com, 22 Mar. 2025
Some situations, like a loose or broken hose, can be fixed relatively easily by the average DIYer, but washing machines also have a series of internal hoses, seals, and fixtures that could need to be tightened, repaired, or replaced by an appliance repair professional.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Mar. 2025
Turning Dania Beach Grill into Lucky Fish A fan-favorite hangout for 75 years, Dania Beach Grill was condemned in April 2019, racking up a trove of code violations at the time, which included damaged and corroded awnings, broken walls and plywood beams, rotten wood and exposed wires.
—Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2025
The palace appeared to be in ruins, with soldiers stepping on broken tiles.
—Samy Magdy and Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for broken
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Bailey Richards, People.com, 22 Mar. 2025
Some situations, like a loose or broken hose, can be fixed relatively easily by the average DIYer, but washing machines also have a series of internal hoses, seals, and fixtures that could need to be tightened, repaired, or replaced by an appliance repair professional.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Mar. 2025
Turning Dania Beach Grill into Lucky Fish A fan-favorite hangout for 75 years, Dania Beach Grill was condemned in April 2019, racking up a trove of code violations at the time, which included damaged and corroded awnings, broken walls and plywood beams, rotten wood and exposed wires.
—Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2025
The palace appeared to be in ruins, with soldiers stepping on broken tiles.
—Samy Magdy and Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for broken
Cite this Entry
“Broken.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/broken. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
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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