broken field

¹ American  

noun

1. open field.

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broken-field ² American  

[broh-kuhn-feeld] / ˈbroʊ kənˈfild /

adjective

Football.

1. performed, as by a ball-carrier, in a wide-open area covered by few defensive players, as opposed to the heavily trafficked area near the line of scrimmage.

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Etymology

Origin of broken field¹

An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900

Origin of broken-field²

An Americanism dating back to 1920–25

Example Sentences

"He is so dangerous in broken field and is an instinctive player, so when he is back to winning the air he will show what he has got with his running game."

From BBC • Nov. 14, 2025

His teammate Perry called him the best broken field runner he had ever seen.

From Washington Post • Jun. 23, 2022

De Laura fired a pass at midfield to Joey Hobert, who made a great broken field run to complete a 55-yard touchdown and lift Washington State to a 17-10 lead late in the third.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 9, 2021

Manoa gets it back though and MacGinty goes searing through the broken field, dummying and getting up to the 22.

From The Guardian • Sep. 20, 2015

Swiftly he ran, dodging among the catclaw and the prickly pear like a half-back carrying the ball through a broken field.

From Gunsight Pass How Oil Came to the Cattle Country and Brought a New West by Raine, William MacLeod