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Shard dates back to Old English (where it was spelled sceard) and is related to Old English scieran, meaning "to cut." English speakers have adopted the modernized shard spelling for most uses, but archaeologists prefer to spell the word sherd when referring to the ancient fragments of pottery (sometimes referred to specifically as potsherds) they unearth. While shard initially referred to exactly such items, today the word is also used more broadly to encompass slivers of intangible concepts. A baseless accusation may be made "without a shard of evidence," and fans of the losing team may "cling to a shard of hope" until the final score. The utility of shard is its, ahem, point.
Examples of shard in a Sentence
Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Mar. 2025
Sculptor of whizzing shards of metal, wire, wood, and glass.
—Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
The latest menu delivers a nod to iconic Kiwi favorites such as confit potato with onion creme fraiche whip and chives, a twist on chips and dip, and ambrosia ice cream with raspberry frozen yogurt, milk chocolate shards, marshmallow and sour cherry swirls.
—Ramsey Qubein, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025
Many windows on the top floor were blown out and some had shards of glass hanging in place that resembled jagged teeth.
—Isabella Kwai, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shard
Cite this Entry
“Shard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shard. Accessed 30 Mar. 2025.
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shard
noun
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