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unbroken
/ʌnˈbroʊkən/
not damaged or interrupted
The ancient vase remained unbroken despite the earthquake.
The vase was not damaged or cracked during the earthquake.
general
not damaged or interrupted; whole and continuous
After years of conflict, the country's borders remained unbroken.
The country's borders were not divided or altered despite the conflict.
She kept her promise unbroken for decades.
She never broke her promise over the course of many decades.
Often used to describe physical objects, promises, traditions, or records that remain intact or consistent.
literary
not subdued or defeated; continuing strongly
The unbroken spirit of the survivors inspired the community.
The survivors' strong, undefeated spirit motivated the community.
Common in metaphorical or inspirational contexts to describe resilience or perseverance.
Collocations
unbroken chaina continuous sequence without interruptionunbroken recorda record that has not been surpassed or brokenunbroken silencea period of time without any sound or interruption
Pro Tip
Avoid confusion with 'unbroke'
'Unbroken' is the correct adjective form, while 'unbroke' is a nonstandard or archaic variant. Always use 'unbroken' for modern English.
Gold Rule
Use 'unbroken' for continuity
Use 'unbroken' to emphasize that something has remained whole or continuous without interruption, not just 'not broken' in a physical sense.
Word Origin
From Middle English 'unbrokyn', from Old English 'unbræcen' (not broken), with 'un-' (not) + 'brocen' (broken). The Old English 'brocen' comes from the past participle of 'brecan' (to break).
Usage Notes
Commonly used in both literal and figurative contexts. In literal contexts, it describes physical objects (e.g., glass, chains) that are not cracked or split. In figurative contexts, it can describe promises, traditions, records, or spirits that remain intact or undefeated.
Word Breakdown
un-
not
prefixbroken
damaged or interrupted
rootEnglish Dictionary