fragmentary

adjective

frag·​men·​tary ˈfrag-mən-ˌter-ē How to pronounce fragmentary (audio)
: consisting of fragments : incomplete
fragmentary evidence
a fragmentary account
fragmentarily adverb
fragmentariness noun

Examples of fragmentary in a Sentence

discovering fragmentary remains of primitive animals the historical record of this pharaoh's life and reign is fragmentary at best
Recent Examples on the Web
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But only Marxism, with its way of examining art for material determinations and historical shaping, can integrate these fragmentary images into revelations of the totality. Mark Greif, Harper's Magazine, 26 July 2024 This frenetic form of diplomacy is notable not only for its lack of progress so far and for its piecemeal and fragmentary nature but also for its considerable scale and scope. Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 7 Nov. 2024 Where the previous constellation of images had tended toward the fragmentary, these emphasized a serial, more comprehensive approach. Emmanuel Iduma, ARTnews.com, 18 Oct. 2024 Ethiopians have welcomed Abiy’s promises to end the Meles regime’s sometimes heavy-handed repression of political rights, but the country is now wrestling with the fragmentary pressures of ethnic politics that Meles managed to contain. Terrence Lyons, Foreign Affairs, 10 Dec. 2019 See all Example Sentences for fragmentary 

Word History

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fragmentary was in 1611

Dictionary Entries Near fragmentary

Cite this Entry

“Fragmentary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fragmentary. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

fragmentary

adjective
frag·​men·​tary ˈfrag-mən-ˌter-ē How to pronounce fragmentary (audio)
: made up of fragments : incomplete
a fragmentary report

More from Merriam-Webster on fragmentary

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