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

She notes that no detailed breakdown of the numbers has been provided by the government or NHS England.

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

West Texas Intermediate and Brent crude both climbed above $100 a barrel on Monday after a breakdown in talks between the U.S. and Iran over the weekend.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

Researchers often struggle to distinguish these rare signaling molecules from the many inactive fragments created during normal protein breakdown.

From Science Daily • Apr. 12, 2026

Vance blamed the breakdown on Iran’s lack of commitment over seeking a nuclear weapon or the tools to allow it to build one quickly.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 12, 2026

Nothing and no one— not even the president of the United States—would thwart * James Hood left the university after only two months, wanting to avoid a breakdown.

From "While the World Watched: A Birmingham Bombing Survivor Comes of Age during the Civil Rights Movement" by Carolyn Maull McKinstry

Related Words

• disintegration
• disruption
• failure
• mishap
• nervous breakdown