noun
breakdown
BRAYK-down
noun
1
A failure, especially of a machine or vehicle.
"The bus broke down twice on the way to the airport."
2
A sudden decline in someone's mental or physical health, often preventing normal functioning.
"The stress of the divorce led to a complete breakdown."
3
A detailed analysis showing the separate parts of something.
"Can you send me a breakdown of the monthly expenses?"
How to Use Breakdown
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA collapse (mechanical or personal) or, separately, an itemized analysis.
Common pairings
nervous breakdown
cost breakdown
mechanical breakdown
Word Forms
breakdowns plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “breakdown”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The stress of the divorce led to a complete _____.
Etymology
A deverbal noun from the phrasal verb break down.