breakdown
Americannoun
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a breaking down, wearing out, or sudden loss of ability to function efficiently, as of a machine.
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a loss of mental or physical health; collapse.
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an analysis or classification of something; division into parts, categories, processes, etc.
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Chemistry.
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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.
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a noisy, lively folk dance.
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.
Sure: It’s not just this breakdown that set things up to be as bad as they are now.
From Slate • Jun. 9, 2026
Poppie was 10 when she was placed in care after a breakdown in her relationship with her mother.
From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026
Fidelity has a useful breakdown of the three agencies’ bond ratings.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 2, 2026
To understand this, take a look at the breakdown of Treasury yields, which is the underlying, or real, yield plus inflation expectations.
From Barron's • May 29, 2026
“You can replay action . . . slow everything down . . . and they flash up a play-by-play breakdown if you need it. Bargain — ten Galleons each.”
From "Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire" by J. K. Rowling
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.
