Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

icebreaker

noun

/ˈaɪsˌbreɪ.kər/

Definition

A statement or action that helps people to relax and start a conversation in a social setting.

Examples

To help everyone feel comfortable at the seminar, the host started with an icebreaker game.
Sharing a funny story about yourself can be a great icebreaker at parties.
On the first day of class, the teacher used an icebreaker activity to help students get to know each other.

Meaning

An icebreaker is usually employed in contexts where it is important to ease tension and foster communication amongst individuals who may be strangers to each other, such as during meetings or social gatherings.