broken line: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1formal, technical, academic
Quick answer
What does “broken line” mean?
A line consisting of a series of short dashes or segments with gaps between them.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A line consisting of a series of short dashes or segments with gaps between them.
Any discontinuous or interrupted sequence, path, or progression; figuratively used to describe erratic or non-linear development.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences; usage frequency may be higher in British technical writing.
Connotations
Both varieties associate it with caution, provisional boundaries, or conceptual discontinuity.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in British English in cartographic and mathematical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “broken line” in a Sentence
[draw/use/indicate] a broken line[mark/represent/show] with a broken line[follow/trace] the broken lineVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “broken line” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The map broken-lines the proposed footpath across the field.
- Broken-line the contours where data is uncertain.
American English
- The architect broken-lined the future expansion on the blueprint.
- Broken-line the route for the detour.
adverb
British English
- The border runs brokenly along the river.
- The data is plotted brokenly to indicate gaps.
American English
- The path continues brokenly through the marsh.
- The timeline is represented brokenly after 1945.
adjective
British English
- The broken-line boundary indicated a disputed border.
- We followed a broken-line trail through the woods.
American English
- The broken-line graph showed estimated projections.
- A broken-line pattern marked the construction zone.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
In organisational charts to indicate indirect reporting relationships.
Academic
In graphs to represent projected data or confidence intervals.
Everyday
Referring to dashed road markings or temporary boundaries.
Technical
In engineering drawings to indicate hidden edges or alternate positions.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “broken line”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “broken line”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “broken line”
- Using 'broken line' to mean a 'faulty line' in telecommunications; confusing with 'line break' in computing.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not precisely. While often used interchangeably in casual speech, in technical contexts (e.g., drafting, cartography) a 'dotted line' is usually a line of dots, whereas a 'broken line' is typically a line of short dashes. The distinction can be domain-specific.
Yes. It is commonly used to describe discontinuous thought processes, erratic progress, or non-linear narratives (e.g., 'a broken line of argument', 'a broken line of succession').
The most direct antonym is a 'solid line' or 'continuous line', which represents actual, measured, or definitive data, as opposed to projected, estimated, or incomplete data.
Pronounce it as two words with stress on 'bro-' and 'line': /ˌbroʊ.kən ˈlaɪn/ (US) or /ˌbrəʊ.kən ˈlaɪn/ (UK). Ensure a clear /k/ sound in 'broken' and a long 'i' in 'line'.
A line consisting of a series of short dashes or segments with gaps between them.
Broken line is usually formal, technical, academic in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “read between the lines (adapted)”
- “toe the line (contrast)”
- “draw a line in the sand (contrast)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a BROKEN pencil trying to draw a LINE—it can only make dashes.
Conceptual Metaphor
DISCONTINUITY IS A BROKEN LINE
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'broken line' be LEAST appropriate?