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
Every album she’s done has its own shape and feel — from her prodigious 2018 breakthrough, Clean, to her 2020 meditation on broken nostalgia, Color Theory, to 2022’s darker, more noisily cathartic Sometimes, Forever.
—
Jon Dolan, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2024
He’s played all seven games this season for the franchise despite suffering through broken ribs and a hand injury.
—Kambui Bomani, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024
The hoard consisted of 4,000 objects and broken fragments, including many war items such as swords and helmets.
—Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 23 Oct. 2024
Her annual Med Gala is left with some broken promises, putting her loyalty and patience to the test.
—Dave Quinn, People.com, 21 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for broken 
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Jon Dolan, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2024
He’s played all seven games this season for the franchise despite suffering through broken ribs and a hand injury.
—Kambui Bomani, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024
The hoard consisted of 4,000 objects and broken fragments, including many war items such as swords and helmets.
—Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 23 Oct. 2024
Her annual Med Gala is left with some broken promises, putting her loyalty and patience to the test.
—Dave Quinn, People.com, 21 Oct. 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 6 Nov. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share