Broken means damaged so badly that something can no longer work the way it's supposed to. A broken clock doesn't tell time. A broken bicycle chain won't turn the wheels. A broken arm needs a cast because the bone has cracked or split apart.

The word also describes things beyond physical objects. A broken promise is one that someone failed to keep, which damages trust between people. When someone says a system is broken, they mean it's not functioning properly anymore: a broken website won't load pages, or a broken rule is one that people ignore so often that it no longer serves its purpose.

The word can also describe emotional hurt. Someone might feel broken after a terrible loss or disappointment, meaning they feel shattered inside and need time to heal.

Interestingly, “broken” sometimes appears in phrases that suggest damage that's actually useful or necessary. Breaking ground on a new building means digging up earth to start construction. A breakthrough in science happens when researchers break through old limitations to discover something new. And when someone breaks the ice at a party, they're shattering an uncomfortable silence to help people start talking. Sometimes things need to break before they can be rebuilt into something better.