fracture

1 of 2

noun

frac·​ture ˈfrak-chər 

-shər

1

: the result of fracturing : break

2

a

: the act or process of breaking or the state of being broken

especially : the breaking of hard tissue (such as bone)

b

: the rupture (as by tearing) of soft tissue

kidney fracture

3

: the general appearance of a freshly broken surface of a mineral

fracture

2 of 2

verb

fractured; fracturing ˈfrak-chə-riŋ 

-shriŋ

transitive verb

1

a

: to cause a crack or fracture in : break

fracture a rib

b

: rupture, tear

2

a

: to damage or destroy as if by rupturing

an argument that fractured family relations

b

: to cause great disorder in

c

: to break up : fractionate

d

: to go beyond the limits of (something, such as a rule) : violate

… fractured many of the laws of probability …

—Sheldon Cheney

intransitive verb

: to undergo fracture : to crack or break

Her wrist fractured in the fall.

Synonyms of fracture

Verb

• disrupt
• break
• fragment

Examples of fracture in a Sentence

Noun

a fracture in the Earth's crust

She suffered a wrist fracture when she slipped on the ice.

Verb

Her wrist fractured when she fell on the ice.

Their happiness was fractured by an unforeseen tragedy.

These problems may fracture the unity of the two parties.

Their fragile happiness fractured all too soon.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

A day after rookie catcher Daniel Susac was diagnosed with a likely season-ending left knee patellar fracture, the Giants brought back veteran backstop Andrew Knizner on a major-league deal to address the team’s incredibly thin catching depth. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026

John Hancock, a former chair of the Missouri Republican Party, said both parties have had fractures between the populists and institutionalists, with the populists representing the fringes and the institutionalists the center. — Jack Harvel august 12, Kansas City Star, 12 Aug. 2026

Verb

Miller has been accused by Emily Moreno of throwing hot water from a skillet at her body, holding a gun to her head, and fracturing their daughter’s collarbone. — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 13 Aug. 2026

When the identifiers changed or failed to match, one history fractured into several incomplete ones. — Aashis Luitel, The Conversation, 13 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, borrowed from Latin frāctūra "act of breaking, breaking of a bone," from frāctus (past participle of frangere "to break, shatter") + -ūra -ure — more at break entry 1

Verb

derivative of fracture entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1612, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing fracture

• closed fracture
• compound fracture
• fracture zone
• freeze-fracture
• greenstick fracture
• open fracture
• simple fracture
• stress fracture

Rhymes for fracture

• facture
• contracture
• manufacture

Kids Definition

fracture

noun

frac·​ture

ˈfrak-chər, 

-shər

1

: the act or process of breaking : the state of being broken

especially : the breaking of a bone

2

: the result of fracturing

especially : an injury resulting from fracture of a bone

fracture verb

Medical Definition

fracture

1 of 2 noun

frac·​ture ˈfrak-chər, -shər 

1

: the act or process of breaking or the state of being broken

specifically : the breaking of hard tissue and especially bone

2

: the rupture (as by tearing) of soft tissue

kidney fracture

fracture

2 of 2 transitive verb

fractured; fracturing -chə-riŋ, -shriŋ 

1

: to cause a fracture in

fracture a rib

2

: to cause a rupture or tear in

a blow that fractured a kidney