Definition of broken adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

    BROKEN definition: 1. past participle of break 2. damaged, no longer able to work: 3. suffering emotional pain thatโ€ฆ. Learn more.

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    There are 40 meanings listed in OED's entry for the word broken, three of which are labelled obsolete. See โ€˜Meaning & useโ€™ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

    Jul 7, 2025ย ยท Unpack the word "broken" in Self Exploration Academy's glossary. Discover its etymology, definitions (adjective, verb), IPA, real-world examples, and common idioms.

  1. fractured, smashed, or splintered: a broken vase. 2. imperfect or incomplete; fragmentary: a broken set of books.
  2. Jan 14, 2026ย ยท broken (comparative more broken, superlative most broken) A broken mug. Fragmented; in separate pieces.

    You can use broken to describe a marriage that has ended in divorce, or a home in which the parents of the family are divorced, when you think this is a sad or bad thing.

    [before a noun] (of language) imperfectly spoken: couldn't understand his broken English. spoken in a halting or hesitant manner, as under emotional strain: In a broken voice he begged for forgiveness.

    The meaning of BROKEN is violently separated into parts : shattered. How to use broken in a sentence.

    You can use broken to describe a marriage that has ended in divorce, or a home in which the parents of the family are divorced, when you think this is a sad or bad thing.

    [before a noun] (of language) imperfectly spoken: couldn't understand his broken English. spoken in a halting or hesitant manner, as under emotional strain: In a broken voice he begged for forgiveness.

    The meaning of BROKEN is violently separated into parts : shattered. How to use broken in a sentence.

    BROKEN definition: past participle of break. See examples of broken used in a sentence.

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