breakage

Everyday

1. A breakage is something that has been broken, especially by accident: "the shop charges for breakages". tree →
2. Breakage is the act of breaking or the damage done: "pack the plates carefully to stop breakage". tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life shops and removal companies talk about breakages: "all breakages must be paid for". In maths problems breakages are often taken away: "of 200 eggs, 12 were breakages, so 188 were sold". Phrases: breakages must be paid for, risk of breakage.

Examples

• All breakages must be paid for. tree →
• We wrapped the cups in newspaper to stop breakage. tree →
• There were three breakages when we moved house. tree →
• Out of 50 glasses, 4 were breakages, so 46 were left. tree →
• The delivery arrived with no breakages. tree →
• The shop puts breakages in a special box. tree →

Note

Countable for single broken items, uncountable for the general idea. Formed from break + -age. In maths, breakages are usually subtracted from the total.