breakdown
noun
a breaking down, wearing out, or sudden loss of ability to function efficiently, as of a machine.
breakdowns
-
pluralof breakdown.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
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.
Here are some of the breakdowns from the 2026 voter poll.
From BBC ● Nov. 3, 2026
Drivers told AFP that a few weeks earlier, a batch of poor-quality petrol caused problems and breakdowns for hundreds of cars.
From Barron's ● Oct. 30, 2026
Arizona is a tough out and doesn’t go away, and tight end Trey McBride is a standout, but the team has too many defensive breakdowns.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026
Kim Fustier, senior global oil and gas analyst at HSBC, said in a Tuesday note that her new base case now assumes that a U.S.-Iran understanding will emerge but be vulnerable to repeated breakdowns.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026
He felt so strange already—the last thing he needed was to watch his parents having emotional breakdowns.
From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
