1
: violently separated into parts : shattered
broken windows
2
: damaged or altered by or as if by breaking (see break entry 1): such as
a
: having undergone or been subjected to fracture
a broken leg
b
: not working properly
a broken camera
c
of land surfaces
: being irregular, interrupted, or full of obstacles
a long broken ridge
d
: violated by transgression : not kept or honored
a broken promise
e
: discontinuous, interrupted
a broken sleep
f
: disrupted by change
g
of a tulip flower
: having an irregular, streaked, or blotched pattern especially from virus infection
3
4
a
: cut off : disconnected
spoke a few broken words
b
: imperfectly spoken or written
broken English
5
: not complete or full
a broken bale of hay
6
: disunited by divorce, separation, or desertion of one parent
children from broken homes
a broken family
brokenly
adverb
Examples of broken in a Sentence
The street was covered with broken glass.
a broken vase that could not be repaired
Recent Examples on the Web
At the hospital, Maggie unknowingly leaves a trail of blood after cutting her hand on broken glass.
—
Jordana Comiter, People.com, 10 Dec. 2024
The broken glass and defaced portraits of the now fugitive president crunching under our feet.
—James Longman, ABC News, 10 Dec. 2024
The shooting has drawn nationwide attention, both for the brutal crime and for what many see as a broken health care system.
—Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
With Fred Warner again laboring while playing on a broken bone in his ankle, Campbell played his best game of the season Sunday and helped the Niners open a 24-0 lead, leading the team with seven tackles.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 8 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for broken 
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Jordana Comiter, People.com, 10 Dec. 2024
The broken glass and defaced portraits of the now fugitive president crunching under our feet.
—James Longman, ABC News, 10 Dec. 2024
The shooting has drawn nationwide attention, both for the brutal crime and for what many see as a broken health care system.
—Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
With Fred Warner again laboring while playing on a broken bone in his ankle, Campbell played his best game of the season Sunday and helped the Niners open a 24-0 lead, leading the team with seven tackles.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 8 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for broken
Dictionary Entries Near broken
Cite this Entry
“Broken.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/broken. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
broken
adjective
bro·ken
ˈbrō-kən 
1
: shattered into pieces
broken glass
2
a
: rough entry 1 sense 1a, uneven
broken terrain
b
: having gaps or breaks
a broken line
3
: not kept
a broken promise
4
: subdued completely
a broken spirit
5
: imperfectly spoken
broken English
6
: having undergone fracture
a broken leg
7
: having one parent missing (as because of divorce)
children from broken homes
brokenly
adverb
Medical Definition
broken
adjective
bro·ken
ˈbrō-kən
: having undergone or been subjected to fracture
a broken leg
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