Word.ws English Dictionary

broken arrow

broken arrow noun: a callout marker that consists of a dashed line with an arrowhead.

Noun (1)

broken arrow (plural broken arrows)

  1. A callout marker that consists of a dashed line with an arrowhead.
    • A broken arrow A - - -> B indicates that an occasional result of Section A is used in Section B, but that Section B is essentially independent of Section A.2003, Thomas W. Hungerford, Algebra, →ISBN, page 371
    • Longitudinal scan of focal thickening and disruption of the median nerve (broken arrow), at the level volar to the distal radius, in keeping with scarring from prior trauma. (F) Sagittal proton density MR image of nonspecific thickening of the 2. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 3. 4. median nerve...2012, Diana Gaitini, Musculoskeletal Ultrasound, An Issue of Ultrasound Clinics, →ISBN
  2. (US, historical) Any of a series of accidental nuclear events in the Cold War, involving nuclear weapons or warheads fallen from aircrafts, which could have triggered a nuclear war.
  3. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see broken, arrow.

Noun (2) capitalized: Broken Arrow

Broken Arrow (plural Broken Arrows)

  1. (US, euphemistic) An accidental event that involves nuclear weapons or nuclear components but does not create the risk of nuclear war.
    • In the US, the code name for a serious nuclear weapons incident is "Broken Arrow". It is US policy neither to confirm nor deny the existence of nuclear weapons at any specific location; this also applies to Broken Arrow incidents.2004, Roland Everett Langford, Introduction to Weapons of Mass Destruction: Radiological, Chemical, and Biological, page 97

Phrase capitalized: Broken Arrow

Broken Arrow

  1. (US) A code phrase indicating that a ground unit is facing imminent destruction from enemy attack and all available air forces within range are to provide air support immediately.
    • The FAC urgently sends over his radio a cry for help: "Broken Arrow! Broken Arrow!' His message unleashes all available close air support in South Vietnam on a priority basis.2003, Jacques-François de Chaunac, The American Cavalry in Vietnam: "First Cav", →ISBN, page 48
    • Before Caras could respond, the General threw down the mike, turned to his second and said, "Get them all the air support we have, everything. This is Broken Arrow"2008, Terry Ryan, Bring Out Your Dead, →ISBN, page 137

Proper noun capitalized: Broken Arrow

Broken Arrow

  1. A city in Tulsa County and Wagoner County, Oklahoma, United States.

Forms of broken arrow

pluralbroken arrows
pluralBroken Arrows

Questions about broken arrow

What does broken arrow mean?
Broken arrow means a callout marker that consists of a dashed line with an arrowhead.
What part of speech is broken arrow?
Broken arrow can be a noun, a phrase or a proper noun.
What is the plural of broken arrow?
The plural of broken arrow is broken arrows.

Words near broken arrow in the dictionary

  1. broken a lance
  2. broken a promise
  3. broken a sweat
  4. broken and entered
  5. broken apart
  6. broken arrow
  7. broken arrows
  8. broken away
  9. broken back
  10. broken bad
  11. broken bar

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: broken arrow (page history and authors); Broken Arrow (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

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Cite this entry: “broken arrow.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/broken_arrow. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.