breakdown
Americannoun
-
a breaking down, wearing out, or sudden loss of ability to function efficiently, as of a machine.
-
a loss of mental or physical health; collapse.
-
an analysis or classification of something; division into parts, categories, processes, etc.
-
Chemistry.
-
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.
-
a noisy, lively folk dance.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of breakdown
First recorded in 1825–35; noun use of verb phrase break down
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
It’s pretty indicative of the breakdown of trust between physicians and families.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
At various points, sociologists proposed and critiqued affirmative action, inspired and lambasted welfare reform, diagnosed and dismissed the breakdown of the nuclear family.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026
Some talk as though the population is ready to wield the pitchforks; that we are close to social breakdown; that a small spark could lead to a serious fire.
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
MarketWatch’s breakdown of net worth by age — from the 25th percentile to the top 1% — is available here.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 17, 2026
I take a seat on the fallen marble pillar where I had my breakdown, wait for the red light and Cressida’s question.
From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins
Philadelphia and Boston, much older cities, have more water main breakdowns than L.A.,
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2026
Although rulings on the shadow docket are typically unsigned and do not include vote breakdowns, we were able to identify how a justice voted in some cases.
From Salon ● Jul. 3, 2026
For the serious aficionado, there are intricate tactical breakdowns and opaque stats like expected goals.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026
Hundreds of passengers were evacuated from two Eurostar trains in Belgium after breakdowns left them without air conditioning in the midst of a sweltering heatwave, the country's rail agency said.
From Barron's ● Jun. 27, 2026
"You mean other daughters have also had breakdowns?"
From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
