breakdown

American  

[breyk-doun] / ˈbreɪkˌdaʊn /

noun

1. a breaking down, wearing out, or sudden loss of ability to function efficiently, as of a machine.

2. a loss of mental or physical health; collapse.

3. an analysis or classification of something; division into parts, categories, processes, etc.

4. Chemistry.

   1. decomposition.

   2. analysis.

5. Electricity. an electric discharge passing through faulty insulation or other material used to separate circuits or passing between electrodes in a vacuum or gas-filled tube.

6. a noisy, lively folk dance.

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Etymology

Origin of breakdown

First recorded in 1825–35; noun use of verb phrase break down

Example Sentences

Sure: It’s not just this breakdown that set things up to be as bad as they are now.

From Slate • Jun. 9, 2026

Apitegromab works by blocking a protein involved in the breakdown of muscle and is also being explored as a treatment for other medical conditions affecting muscles, including spinal muscular atrophy.

From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026

Fidelity has a useful breakdown of the three agencies’ bond ratings.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 2, 2026

The Judicial Branch of California provided this breakdown:

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 1, 2026

She had also had a nervous breakdown or two, and sometimes, in repose, she got a kind of walleyed look that made me nervous.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt

Related Words

• disintegration
• disruption
• failure
• mishap
• nervous breakdown