breakup

American  

[breyk-uhp] / ˈbreɪkˌʌp /

noun

1. disintegration; disruption; dispersal.

2. the ending of a personal, especially a romantic, relationship.

3. (in Alaska and Canada)

   1. the melting and loosening of ice in rivers and harbors during the early spring.

   2. the first day on which such ice is soft or dispersed enough to permit ships to use the waterways.

4. Informal. an act or instance of being convulsed with laughter.

5. temporary distortion in a televised picture.

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Etymology

Origin of breakup

First recorded in 1785–95; noun use of verb phrase break up

Example Sentences

Five years later, that million-square-foot plant is mostly empty and losing money, a casualty of America’s messy breakup with electric vehicles.

From The Wall Street Journal

After the breakup of their marriage, Burden’s husband flipped from provider to usurper.

From Los Angeles Times

Events of the past few years haven’t exactly been a laugh riot for Semple, 61, with two unreleased TV comedy projects, one unpublished novel and the breakup of her more than 32-year romantic partnership.

From The Wall Street Journal

Among them, McCartney pointed out, was Morgan Neville, director of the recent “Man on the Run” documentary about McCartney’s life in the aftermath of the Beatles’ breakup.

From Los Angeles Times

The 2024 crash was caused by "an encounter with turbulence due to downdraft winds that resulted in mast bumping and an inflight breakup", a report by the National Transportation Safety Board said.

From BBC

Related Words

• breakdown
• disintegration
• dissolution
• divorce
• separation
• split
• termination