technological breakdown

USAGE SUMMARY

"technological breakdown" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a situation when a machine or other technological device fails to work correctly. For example, "The laptop suddenly stopped working due to a technological breakdown".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Nowhere is this more evident than in his images of technological breakdown, in particular those capturing car and trolley accidents.

The New York Times - Arts

Updated, 8 50 p.m. | After a technological breakdown froze the Nasdaq stock market for three hours last month, investors across Wall Street wrung their hands.

The New York Times

The research firms that designed the $10 million polling system used by news organizations during last year's presidential election have concluded that the system erroneously showed John Kerry to be leading the race not because of a technological breakdown but because of more human variables.

The New York Times

A memo leaked this month that appeared to be from the presidential administration indicated that Mr. Kuchma's forces have plans "to secure technological breakdown of the electronic vote count system for at least two hours for detailed specification of results" on election night.

The New York Times

Another hypothesis could be stated: a world of pests that human society cannot control effectively will inevitably reshape human society through disease and famine, technological breakdown, and interference with domesticated and wild species upon which the integrity of human societal structure depends.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Federal authorities and Congressional committees have focused their scrutiny on technological breakdowns and high-speed trading.

The New York Times

The collision occurred when Zurich's air traffic control center was understaffed and plagued by technological breakdowns.

The New York Times

But Mr. Steiner has pointed to the Toronto exchange's frequent technological breakdowns as evidence that his electronic exchange should be given more freedom.

The New York Times

The latest trouble showed again how the stock market "remained vulnerable to technological breakdowns even as regulators and market operators work to keep up with trading that is increasingly electronic and driven by speed," Mr. Popper writes.

The New York Times

Updated, 9 39 p.m. | The United States stock market showed again on Thursday that it remained vulnerable to technological breakdowns even as regulators and market operators work to keep up with trading that is increasingly electronic and driven by speed.

The New York Times

Regulators at the S.E.C. have resisted making significant reforms in recent years, but they are contemplating changes after several highly public technological breakdowns and concern about the dominant role played by high-speed trading firms, which now account for more than half of all trading.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "technological breakdown", specify the affected technology if possible to provide more clarity. For example, instead of "a technological breakdown occurred", say "a server breakdown occurred".

Common error

Avoid using "technological breakdown" to describe situations where technology is simply slow or inefficient. Reserve it for cases where the technology has completely stopped functioning or is severely impaired.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "technological breakdown" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a state or instance where technology ceases to function correctly. As Ludwig AI explains, it refers to situations where devices or systems fail.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "technological breakdown" is a noun phrase used to describe the failure of a technology. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It is relatively rare, primarily appearing in news and scientific contexts. When using the phrase, it's best to specify the affected technology for clarity and reserve it for complete or severe failures, distinguishing it from mere slowdowns. Related phrases include "system failure" and "technical glitch", each carrying slightly different connotations. While not extremely frequent, it serves as a useful term to describe technology not working.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

system failure

Replaces "technological breakdown" with a more general term for system malfunction.

equipment malfunction

Focuses specifically on the faulty operation of equipment.

technical glitch

Refers to a minor, often temporary, technological issue.

computer crash

Specifically refers to a failure in a computer system.

machinery failure

Highlights the breakdown of mechanical systems.

power outage

Describes a loss of electrical power, a common cause of technological disruptions.

service disruption

Focuses on the interruption of a technological service or utility.

IT incident

A more formal term for a technological problem, often used in IT management.

hardware failure

Refers specifically to the malfunction of physical components.

software error

Focuses on problems arising from software defects.

FAQs

How can I use "technological breakdown" in a sentence?

You can use "technological breakdown" to describe the failure of a system, as in "The company experienced a major "system failure" due to a "technological breakdown".".

What's the difference between "technological breakdown" and "technical glitch"?

"Technological breakdown" suggests a more significant and potentially disruptive failure, while "technical glitch" implies a minor, temporary issue.

What can I say instead of "technological breakdown"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "system failure", "equipment malfunction", or "technical glitch".

Is "technological breakdown" a formal or informal term?

"Technological breakdown" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though more formal settings might prefer terms like "system failure" or "IT incident".