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
fractured; fracturing
ˈfrak-chə-riŋ
-shriŋ
2
a
: to damage or destroy as if by rupturing
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
Sheldon Cheney
: to undergo fracture : to crack or break
Her wrist fractured in the fall.
Synonyms
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 WebElizabeth B. Kim, The Enquirer, 10 Apr. 2024
Other injuries sustained in the crash include a cervical and two thoracic spine vertebral body fractures for Team Emirates rider Jay Vine and a concussion and fractured sternum for EF Pro Cycling’s Sean Quinn.
—Matias Grez, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
The student, identified as Nina in a GoFundMe, suffered a brain injury and fractures in both femurs, her knee and her pelvis, according to the fundraiser description.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2024
Even the states that aim to lead Africa, Asia, and Latin America face serious internal fractures, such as the high level of criminal activity in Brazil and South Africa or the recent upsurge of ethnic conflict in northeastern India.
—Comfort Ero, Foreign Affairs, 1 Apr. 2024
And Russell Westbrook, who has missed the last 12 games with a fracture in his left hand, is expected back soon, perhaps in time for Monday’s game.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2024
Ellie Bentley remains hospitalized with numerous fractures after the Feb. 26 incident
A young woman who moved from the U.K. to St. Louis is still hospitalized weeks after she was dragged by a car for three blocks and suffered serious injury.
—Liam Quinn, Peoplemag, 16 Mar. 2024
With that threat hanging over him, Johnson will also have to navigate fractures within his party over sending more aid to Ukraine.
—Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 29 Mar. 2024
New York Yankees outfielder Oscar Gonzalez suffered a right orbital fracture in Monday night's exhibition game in Mexico City.
—Katherine Itoh, NBC News, 26 Mar. 2024
Chase Jordan, Charlotte Observer, 12 Apr. 2024
In fact, McDuffie was surrounded by officers who beat him within an inch of his life, fracturing his skull in multiple places, leading to his death on Dec. 21.
—Christine Dolen, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2024
Nearby, a snow cornice close to the rim had fractured and fell into the crater of the mountain.
—Jillian Sykes, CNN, 3 Apr. 2024
But power-sharing disputes and turf wars fractured their alliance and led to an entrenched, sprawling series of battles across the African nation — shaped, in part, by the competing interests of a number of outside powers.
—Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 1 Apr. 2024
The article fractured polite society and permanently ostracized the writer from elite circles, and the series indicates that this banishment may have factored into his eventual death.
—Paula Mejía, The Atlantic, 19 Mar. 2024
Jonathan Majors sentencing in domestic violence case postponed to April
Prosecutors said Jabbari fractured her finger and showed jurors photos taken by police of her injuries, including a cut to her ear and a bruised and swollen finger.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 19 Mar. 2024
My identity was fractured, dependent on the setting.
—CBS News, 15 Mar. 2024
Lin pulled a gun and fired, the bullet fracturing Liu’s hipbone, according to court documents.
—Sebastian Rotella, ProPublica, 14 Mar. 2024
Noun
It is recommended for postmenopausal women or women over the age of 65 to predict the odds of fracture.
—Elizabeth B. Kim, The Enquirer, 10 Apr. 2024
Other injuries sustained in the crash include a cervical and two thoracic spine vertebral body fractures for Team Emirates rider Jay Vine and a concussion and fractured sternum for EF Pro Cycling’s Sean Quinn.
—Matias Grez, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024
The student, identified as Nina in a GoFundMe, suffered a brain injury and fractures in both femurs, her knee and her pelvis, according to the fundraiser description.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2024
Even the states that aim to lead Africa, Asia, and Latin America face serious internal fractures, such as the high level of criminal activity in Brazil and South Africa or the recent upsurge of ethnic conflict in northeastern India.
—Comfort Ero, Foreign Affairs, 1 Apr. 2024
And Russell Westbrook, who has missed the last 12 games with a fracture in his left hand, is expected back soon, perhaps in time for Monday’s game.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2024
Ellie Bentley remains hospitalized with numerous fractures after the Feb. 26 incident
A young woman who moved from the U.K. to St. Louis is still hospitalized weeks after she was dragged by a car for three blocks and suffered serious injury.
—Liam Quinn, Peoplemag, 16 Mar. 2024
With that threat hanging over him, Johnson will also have to navigate fractures within his party over sending more aid to Ukraine.
—Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 29 Mar. 2024
New York Yankees outfielder Oscar Gonzalez suffered a right orbital fracture in Monday night's exhibition game in Mexico City.
—Katherine Itoh, NBC News, 26 Mar. 2024
Verb
His disability began in 1990 after being involved in an accident that fractured his spine, according to the suit.
—Chase Jordan, Charlotte Observer, 12 Apr. 2024
In fact, McDuffie was surrounded by officers who beat him within an inch of his life, fracturing his skull in multiple places, leading to his death on Dec. 21.
—Christine Dolen, Miami Herald, 4 Apr. 2024
Nearby, a snow cornice close to the rim had fractured and fell into the crater of the mountain.
—Jillian Sykes, CNN, 3 Apr. 2024
But power-sharing disputes and turf wars fractured their alliance and led to an entrenched, sprawling series of battles across the African nation — shaped, in part, by the competing interests of a number of outside powers.
—Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 1 Apr. 2024
The article fractured polite society and permanently ostracized the writer from elite circles, and the series indicates that this banishment may have factored into his eventual death.
—Paula Mejía, The Atlantic, 19 Mar. 2024
Jonathan Majors sentencing in domestic violence case postponed to April
Prosecutors said Jabbari fractured her finger and showed jurors photos taken by police of her injuries, including a cut to her ear and a bruised and swollen finger.
—Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 19 Mar. 2024
My identity was fractured, dependent on the setting.
—CBS News, 15 Mar. 2024
Lin pulled a gun and fired, the bullet fracturing Liu’s hipbone, according to court documents.
—Sebastian Rotella, ProPublica, 14 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fracture.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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
Time Traveler
The first known use of fracture was
in the 15th century
Phrases Containing fracture
Dictionary Entries Near fracture
Cite this Entry
“Fracture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fracture. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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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
More from Merriam-Webster on fracture
Nglish: Translation of fracture for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of fracture for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about fracture
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