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

Defense expert Heather Garvin, an anthropologist who has a doctorate in anatomy, said the fracture doesn't definitively prove that Birchmore's death was a homicide. — Senior Editor, CBS News, 6 Nov. 2026

Last month, a 15-year-old was maimed by a sting ball grenade fired by police and a 14-year-old suffered a jaw fracture in a similar incident. — Zacharie Petit, NBC news, 5 Nov. 2026

Verb

In her studio, the artists created multiple works that will go into her installation – including two slabs of city sidewalk that a jackhammer had fractured into pieces to make space for trees. — Anne Makovec, CBS News, 13 Nov. 2026

Both Beijing and Moscow are happy to see the United States mired in a conflict that is exacerbating divisions within the American electorate and fracturing NATO. — Charles Kupchan, Foreign Affairs, 13 Nov. 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