Standard Lemma guide

broken-down

adj · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Which has broken down and, as a result, is no longer in working order.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Not properly maintained; neglected.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adj

Meaning 3

Ruined in character or strength.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adjective satellite

Meaning 4

in deplorable condition

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • a street of bedraggled tenements
  • a broken-down fence
  • a ramshackle old pier
  • a tumble-down shack

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: bedraggled, derelict, dilapidated, ramshackle, tatterdemalion, tumble-down

Antonyms: none provided

5

adjective satellite

Meaning 5

not in working order

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • had to push the broken-down car
  • a broken-down tractor fit only for children to play on

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

18 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: مُعَطَّل (muʕaṭṭal) — no longer in working order
  • Arabic: خربان (ḵarbān) — no longer in working order
  • Arabic: خربان (ḵarbān) — no longer in working order
  • Arabic: خربان (ḵarbān) — no longer in working order
  • Bulgarian: повреден (povreden) — no longer in working order
  • Finnish: rikkinäinen — no longer in working order
  • Finnish: epäkuntoinen — no longer in working order
  • Finnish: toimimaton — no longer in working order
  • French: en panne — no longer in working order
  • French: hors-service — no longer in working order
  • French: H.S. — no longer in working order
  • German: kaputt — no longer in working order
  • Polish: uszkodzony — no longer in working order
  • Finnish: ränsistynyt — not properly maintained
  • Finnish: rapistunut — not properly maintained
  • Finnish: rappeutunut — not properly maintained
  • Ottoman Turkish: قوسقونسز (kuskunsuz) — not properly maintained
  • Finnish: rappiolla — ruined in character or strength