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

Examples of fraction in a Sentence

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

The Chinese tariffs that will pummel soybeans, the primary aircraft category, the primary category for vaccines, plasma and blood fractions, cotton and grain sorghum. —Ken Roberts, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025

Full Story Tax Watch Senate budget calls for fraction of cuts sought by House The Senate voted Thursday to advance its budget resolution, setting up a weekend vote for the upper chamber’s precursor bill for Republicans’ mainline tax cut and spending legislation. —Aris Folley, The Hill, 4 Apr. 2025

And factory workers are only a fraction of the nation’s auto jobs. —Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2025

Max Stier, the president of the Partnership for Public Service, a nonprofit that promotes best practices in government, questioned the administration’s reasoning, pointing out that the savings that might come from job cuts amount to a fraction of the government’s overall spending. —Eileen Sullivan, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2025

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

• common fraction
• complex fraction
• continued fraction
• decimal fraction
• improper fraction
• partial fraction
• proper fraction
• simple fraction

Rhymes for fraction

• action
• faction
• traction
• abstraction
• attraction
• compaction
• contraction
• detraction
• diffraction
• distraction
• exaction
• extraction

Kids Definition

fraction

noun

frac·​tion ˈfrak-shən 

1

: a number (as ½, ¾, or 3.323) that represents a number of equal parts of a whole or the division of one number by another

2

: a part of a whole

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