fraction
noun
frac·tion ˈfrak-shən 
1
a
: a numerical representation (such as ³/₄, ⁵/₈, or 3.234) indicating the quotient of two numbers
b(1)
: a piece broken off : fragment
(2)
: a discrete unit : portion
2
: one of several portions (as of a distillate) separable by fractionation
3
: bit, little
a fraction closer
Synonyms
- bit
- fragment
- piece
- scrap
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
a fraction of an inch if even a tiny fraction of that cookie broke off and fell into the delicate watch works, it could mess things up
Recent Examples on the Web When a particular brand or item goes viral, rather than a style, the most popular dupes are those that recreate a product as closely as possible for a fraction of the price. 
Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 15 Sep. 2022 Silicon Valley investors and national security analysts say Chinese capital continues to back U.S. venture-capital firms large and small, sometimes accounting for a fraction of a venture fund and at times much more. Heather Somerville, WSJ, 15 Sep. 2022 The company reviewed satellite images for only a fraction of California’s geography, steering clear of federal and agricultural lands. Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2022 Want to drive a multimillion-dollar hypercar for a fraction of the price? Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 1 Sep. 2022 Nicholas Fairall, 33, an US Olympic ski jumper in Sochi, was competing in a World Cup event in Austria in 2015 when his ski stuck for a fraction of a second in wet snow, catapulting him headfirst into the slope at 70 m.p.h. BostonGlobe.com, 29 Aug. 2022 Johnson, who works at a social service agency, is incredulous DTE sold her debt for a fraction of its face value so that Jefferson Capital could make a profit. Sarah Alvarez, ProPublica, 23 Aug. 2022 Mikayla Nogueira gave it her stamp on approval as a dupe for the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter that the internet is obsessed with — for a fraction of the price. Hannah Oh, Seventeen, 12 Aug. 2022 The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 offers a similar experience to more premium Samsung tablets for a fraction of the cost. Harry Rabinowitz, Popular Mechanics, 8 Aug. 2022 See More
Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 15 Sep. 2022 Silicon Valley investors and national security analysts say Chinese capital continues to back U.S. venture-capital firms large and small, sometimes accounting for a fraction of a venture fund and at times much more. Heather Somerville, WSJ, 15 Sep. 2022 The company reviewed satellite images for only a fraction of California’s geography, steering clear of federal and agricultural lands. Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2022 Want to drive a multimillion-dollar hypercar for a fraction of the price? Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 1 Sep. 2022 Nicholas Fairall, 33, an US Olympic ski jumper in Sochi, was competing in a World Cup event in Austria in 2015 when his ski stuck for a fraction of a second in wet snow, catapulting him headfirst into the slope at 70 m.p.h. BostonGlobe.com, 29 Aug. 2022 Johnson, who works at a social service agency, is incredulous DTE sold her debt for a fraction of its face value so that Jefferson Capital could make a profit. Sarah Alvarez, ProPublica, 23 Aug. 2022 Mikayla Nogueira gave it her stamp on approval as a dupe for the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter that the internet is obsessed with — for a fraction of the price. Hannah Oh, Seventeen, 12 Aug. 2022 The Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 offers a similar experience to more premium Samsung tablets for a fraction of the cost. Harry Rabinowitz, Popular Mechanics, 8 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English fraccioun "act or result of breaking, mathematical fraction," borrowed from Medieval Latin frāctiōn-, frāctiō "breaking, division into parts, mathematical fraction," going back to Late Latin, "breaking, weariness, illness," from Latin frag-, variant stem of frangere "to break, shatter" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at break entry 1
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing fraction
Kids Definition
fraction
noun
frac·tion ˈfrak-shən
1
: a number (as ¹/₂, ²/₃, ¹⁷/₁₀₀) that indicates one or more equal parts of a whole or group and that may be considered as indicating also division of the number above the line by the number below the line
2
: a part of a whole : fragment
I sold the car for a fraction of what I paid for it.
Medical Definition
fraction
noun
frac·tion ˈfrak-shən
: one of several portions (as of a distillate) separable by fractionation
gamma globulin is a fraction of blood plasma
fractions
noun
as in fragments
a broken or irregular part of something that often remains incomplete if even a tiny fraction of that cookie broke off and fell into the delicate watch works, it could mess things up Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- fragments
- pieces
- bits
- scraps
- remnants
- portions
- slivers
- shards
- sections
- remainders
- segments
- molecules
- grains
- particles
- atoms
- splinters
- granules
- chips
- leftovers
- flakes
- shreds
- specks
- flecks
- stubs
- clippings
- shavings
- tatters
- patches
- crumbs
- snippets
- cantles
- nuggets
- parings
- flyspecks
- scruples
- motes
- snips
- morsels
- shivers
- oddments
- dribbles
- shatters
- ends
- nubbins
- tittles