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.

---

Etymology

Origin of breakdown

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

Example Sentences

U.S. military personnel passes were extended for two days because of the mass-transit breakdown.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026

She initially had no wish to leave and had hoped to retire at City but a breakdown in negotiations means she is exploring other options.

From BBC • May 7, 2026

The company closed out 2025 with a roughly 24% year-over-year sales gain in its international business, according to a geographic breakdown in its annual report.

From MarketWatch • May 6, 2026

Iranian state media have put the death toll at 168 or higher, but Ebrahim Taheri, the prosecutor of Minab, provided a breakdown of the 156 casualties local authorities counted.

From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026

Many of his colleagues knew that he'd had some kind of breakdown during the war, and that he was still somewhat fragile, but they didn’t know much more than that.

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield

Related Words

• disintegration
• disruption
• failure
• mishap
• nervous breakdown