To broach a subject means to bring it up for discussion, especially when the topic might be sensitive, awkward, or difficult to talk about. When you broach something, you're the first person to mention it, carefully introducing it into the conversation.

Imagine you want to ask your parents if you can get a pet, but you're not sure how they'll react. You might wait for the right moment to broach the subject, perhaps starting with “I've been thinking about something...” Someone might broach the topic of changing vacation plans, or a student might broach the idea of starting a new club at school.

The word suggests some caution or care. You don't usually broach simple topics like what's for dinner. You broach things that matter: requesting something important, discussing a problem, or introducing an idea that might meet resistance. A teacher might broach the subject of a student's declining grades. A friend might broach a concern about another friend's behavior.

The key is that broaching is about opening up a conversation, not having the whole discussion. You broach a topic to get it started, to see how others respond, and to begin working through whatever needs to be addressed.