breaker: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to technical, depending on context. Common in technical domains (electrical, maritime, engineering) and everyday speech in specific phrases.
Quick answer
What does “breaker” mean?
A person or thing that breaks something, especially something that disrupts or interrupts a state or process.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person or thing that breaks something, especially something that disrupts or interrupts a state or process.
A wave that collapses into foam as it reaches the shore; an electrical safety device; a person who breaks in or tames something (e.g., horse breaker); a machine for breaking up material (e.g., rock breaker); a person or act that violates social norms or laws (e.g., strike breaker, law-breaker).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal semantic difference. Compound forms like 'rock breaker' (UK) might be 'stone crusher' or 'rock crusher' (US) in industrial contexts. 'Breaker' for a circuit interrupting device is standard in both.
Connotations
In amateur radio, "breaker" (e.g., "breaker, breaker") as a call for attention is strongly associated with American CB radio culture.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in British English in maritime contexts (e.g., "breaker" for a type of wave). The compound 'strike-breaker' is common in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “breaker” in a Sentence
[breaker] of [something] (a breaker of rules/traditions)[adjective] + breaker (habitual breaker)Compound: [noun] + breaker (tie-breaker)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “breaker” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A - 'breaker' is not a standard verb.
American English
- N/A - 'breaker' is not a standard verb.
adverb
British English
- N/A - 'breaker' is not an adverb.
American English
- N/A - 'breaker' is not an adverb.
adjective
British English
- N/A - 'breaker' is not a standard adjective. The participial adjective is 'breaking'.
American English
- N/A - 'breaker' is not a standard adjective. The participial adjective is 'breaking'.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
A disruptive technology or company is a 'market breaker' or 'game breaker'.
Academic
Used in social sciences: 'norm breaker', 'taboo breaker'. In engineering: 'circuit breaker', 'impact breaker'.
Everyday
Common in news: 'record breaker' (sports, weather), 'law breaker'. Social: 'ice breaker' (activity).
Technical
Electrical engineering: a device for interrupting a circuit. Maritime: a type of wave or a defensive sea wall. Mining: a rock-crushing machine.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “breaker”
Strong
Neutral
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “breaker”
- Using 'breaker' as a standalone verb (it's a noun; the verb is 'to break').
- Confusing 'breaker' (wave) with 'broken' (adjective).
- Overusing 'breaker' for any person who stops something; it's more idiomatic in specific compounds.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is neutral; its connotation depends entirely on context. 'Record breaker' is positive, 'law breaker' is negative, 'circuit breaker' is neutral/technical.
'Breaker' is a noun meaning the thing or person that performs the action of breaking. 'Broken' is an adjective describing the state of something after it has been broken.
Not directly. You would say 'heart breaker'. Using 'breaker' alone ('She was a breaker') would be unclear and unnatural.
It's a metaphor. The activity is designed to 'break the ice' of social tension or formality, making people feel more comfortable, just as a ship breaks ice to clear a path.
A person or thing that breaks something, especially something that disrupts or interrupts a state or process.
Breaker is usually neutral to technical, depending on context. common in technical domains (electrical, maritime, engineering) and everyday speech in specific phrases. in register.
Breaker: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbreɪkə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbreɪkər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Breaker of hearts”
- “Breaker of chains”
- “Breaker of the peace”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a large WAVE BREAKING on the shore. The part that BREAKS is the BREAKER. This core idea of 'the thing that breaks' extends to electrical circuits (circuit breaker) and rules (rule breaker).
Conceptual Metaphor
BARRIERS ARE BROKEN / CONTINUITY IS BROKEN. A 'breaker' is the agent or instrument in the metaphor of breaking a barrier (ice, circuit, law, record).
Practice
Quiz
In which context does 'breaker' NOT typically refer to a person?