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

Piker called this series The Breakdown, and it became a surprise hit on Facebook, with some videos scoring more than 100 million views.

From Slate • Feb. 18, 2025

Famed for being rugby’s greatest ad-libbers, Fiji put the razzle-dazzle away and won in a very un-Fijian traditional way: Breakdown domination, brick-wall defense, and relentless commitment for 80 minutes.

From Washington Times • Sep. 17, 2023

According to the New York Equine Death and Breakdown report, Hennig has not had a fatality since 2021, when he had two, one at Belmont Park and the other at Saratoga.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2023

Armstrong parlayed her success into a strong social media presence and three books, including the 2009 memoir It Sucked and then I Cried: How I Had a Baby, a Breakdown and a Much Needed Margarita.

From BBC • May 10, 2023

The Breakdown occurred about that time, and in the galaxy-wide disruption Anvhar had to fight its own internal battle.

From Planet of the Damned by Harrison, Harry

Related Words

• disintegration
• disruption
• failure
• mishap
• nervous breakdown