fragment

1 of 2

noun

frag·ment ˈfrag-mənt

Synonyms of fragment next

: a part broken off, detached, or incomplete

The dish lay in fragments on the floor.

fragment

2 of 2

verb

frag·ment ˈfrag-ˌment

fragmented; fragmenting; fragments

intransitive verb

: to fall to pieces

transitive verb

: to break up or apart into fragments

Choose the Right Synonym for fragment

part, portion, piece, member, division, section, segment, fragment mean something less than the whole.

part is a general term appropriate when indefiniteness is required.

they ran only part of the way

portion implies an assigned or allotted part.

cut the pie into six portions

piece applies to a separate or detached part of a whole.

a puzzle with 500 pieces

member suggests one of the functional units composing a body.

a structural member

division applies to a large or diversified part.

the manufacturing division of the company

section applies to a relatively small or uniform part.

the entertainment section of the newspaper

segment applies to a part separated or marked out by or as if by natural lines of cleavage.

the retired segment of the population

fragment applies to a part produced by or as if by breaking off.

only a fragment of the play still exists

Examples of fragment in a Sentence

Noun The dish lay in fragments on the floor. I could only hear fragments of their conversation. Verb The party is fragmenting into warring factions. These issues are fragmenting our society. property being fragmented into subdivisions

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Noun

Now, geneticists in India are hoping to use DNA extracted from more than 300 human bones and bone fragments found during those digs to shed new light on the origins of India’s people. —

Byvaishnavi Chandrashekhar, science.org, 4 Nov. 2024 The only surviving wonder of these original seven that still stands is the Great Pyramid of Giza — the other six are either completely lost to time or only exist in fragments. —

Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 4 Nov. 2024

Verb

That is especially true in the U.S., where efforts to implement AI safety laws have been fragmented at best. —

Michael Wade, TIME, 13 Oct. 2024 Rapid logging, agricultural expansion and infrastructure development are steadily fragmenting and diminishing its habitat. —

Scott Travers, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for fragment

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, borrowed from Latin fragmentum, from frag-, variant stem of frangere "to break, shatter" + -mentum -ment — more at break entry 1

Verb

derivative of fragment entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1818, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler

The first known use of fragment was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Fragment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fragment. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

fragment

noun

frag·ment

ˈfrag-mənt

: a part that is broken off or incomplete

: sentence fragment

fragment

-ˌment

verb

Medical Definition

fragment

noun

frag·ment ˈfrag-mənt

: a part broken off or detached

Last Updated: 22 Nov 2024 - Updated example sentences

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fragment

noun

verb

Synonyms

Examples of fragment in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near fragment

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Medical Definition