break off

verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"break-off" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“break off” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a verb - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
9
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To remove a piece from a whole by breaking or snapping.

Key facts for break off
PropertyValue
Headwordbreak off
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
Letters9
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “break off” sits in English frequency

break off falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for break off is 9 letters long, classified as a verb. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 6 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

break off has no tracked misspelling variants, since its letter sequence doesn't invite the usual edit-distance slips. Our dataset records no confusable match here, a sign it's visually distinctive enough not to be mixed up with another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English breke of (“break off, terminate”), a dissimilated form of earlier Middle English ofbreken. By surface analysis, break + off. The correct English form is break off, spelled B-R-E-A-K- -O-F-F.

Definition

  1. 1
    To remove a piece from a whole by breaking or snapping.
  2. 2
    To become detached by breaking or snapping.
  3. 3
    To discontinue abruptly.
  4. 4
    To end abruptly, either temporarily or permanently.
  5. 5
    To play the first shot in a frame of snooker, billiards or pool.
  6. 6
    To give (someone) (something); to allow (someone) to take (something); to grant (someone) a share or portion of (something).

Etymology

From Middle English breke of (“break off, terminate”), a dissimilated form of earlier Middle English ofbreken. By surface analysis, break + off.

This word in other languages

terminar(Español)interrompre(Français)abbrechen(Deutsch)separar(Português)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "break off"?
"break off" is spelled B-R-E-A-K- -O-F-F.
What does "break off" mean?
As a verb, "break off" means: To remove a piece from a whole by breaking or snapping.
What is the origin of the word "break off"?
From Middle English breke of (“break off, terminate”), a dissimilated form of earlier Middle English ofbreken. By surface analysis, break + off. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “break off”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is B-R-E-A-K- -O-F-F - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list