Definition of segmentnext
as in portion
one of the pieces from which something is designed to be assembled I think I lost one segment of this model kit

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

segment

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word segment distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of segment are division, fragment, member, part, piece, portion, and section. While all these words mean "something less than the whole," segment applies to a part separated or marked out by or as if by natural lines of cleavage.

the retired segment of the population

Where would division be a reasonable alternative to segment?

The synonyms division and segment are sometimes interchangeable, but division applies to a large or diversified part.

the manufacturing division of the company

When can fragment be used instead of segment?

The meanings of fragment and segment largely overlap; however, fragment applies to a part produced by or as if by breaking off.

only a fragment of the play still exists

In what contexts can member take the place of segment?

While the synonyms member and segment are close in meaning, member suggests one of the functional units composing a body.

a structural member

When might part be a better fit than segment?

Although the words part and segment have much in common, part is a general term appropriate when indefiniteness is required.

they ran only part of the way

When could piece be used to replace segment?

The words piece and segment can be used in similar contexts, but piece applies to a separate or detached part of a whole.

a puzzle with 500 pieces

When would portion be a good substitute for segment?

The words portion and segment are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, portion implies an assigned or allotted part.

cut the pie into six portions

When is it sensible to use section instead of segment?

In some situations, the words section and segment are roughly equivalent. However, section applies to a relatively small or uniform part.

the entertainment section of the newspaper

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of segment
Noun
Built in segments between the 1910s and 1930s, the highway opened up remote seaside communities and reshaped the way travelers experienced California’s dramatic shoreline. Abby Price, Travel + Leisure, 4 Sep. 2026 Karapetian also told investors that the sport segment is 75 percent of global revenue, largely in apparel in ski and sailing. Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 4 Sep. 2026
Verb
That required segmenting the coil and inserting electronics within it to keep it from radiating its energy away like an antenna. IEEE Spectrum, 30 Apr. 2026 If a judge overturned Tuesday’s court ruling to extend polling place times, the provisional ballots would help election officials segment out votes cast after polls were originally scheduled to close. Jamie Landers, Dallas Morning News, 4 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for segment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for segment
Noun
  • On the women’s side, Aryna Sabalenka faces Linda Noskova in the early window, with Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro in an all-American matchup in the late portion.
    Chris Branch, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Significant flash flooding and mudslides across Kauai County and portions of the Big Island (Hawaii County).
    Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Which amendment prohibits quartering of troops in homes during peacetime?
    Arthur Jones II, ABC News, 2 July 2026
  • Meanwhile, break the cauliflower into small florets, halving or quartering the larger ones, and rinse well.
    Carole Kotkin, Miami Herald, 16 June 2026
Noun
  • The moratorium is part of a broader assessment of the technology and its impact on kids.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Sep. 2026
  • In fact, the dress code was actually eliminated during the 2025-26 season as part of early transition dates agreed upon for the new CBA.
    Chris Johnston, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Recent history recalls plans to partition Iraq into ethnic substates.
    David Armitage, Washington Post, 26 June 2026
  • In August 1947 the Indian subcontinent achieved independence from British rule but was simultaneously partitioned into the separate countries India and Pakistan.
    Gitanjali Roy, Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 May 2026
Noun
  • Among a section of the fan-base, such fears risked becoming ingrained.
    Chris Waugh, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Kroger is upgrading wine sections at 147 stores, including some in Louisville, adding tasting bars and classes to help educate shoppers.
    Ray Padilla, Louisville Courier Journal, 11 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Was the discursive thread accidental, or emblematic of the two poles the AI industry is now bifurcated between?
    Anisha Sircar, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026
  • London said the rental market is bifurcated, with older apartment complexes generally fuller than newer ones.
    Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 July 2026
Verb
  • Stan Wars, co-hosted by Ian Slater (H3) and Olivia Lopes (H3, Rodiculous Pod), digs into the big pop culture debates of our time, dissecting the various arguments within the entertainment world to determine who is right and who is wrong.
    Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The original medical examiner is dead, so the replacement, Lisa Gavin, examined slides of Shakur’s bloated cadaver with the dispassion of a science teacher dissecting a frog.
    Jeff Weiss, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Deficit turnaround Meloni inherited an Italy that was politically divided and fraught with fiscal problems.
    Jenni Reid,Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The open-plan, curvilinear design means the galleries are not fully divided, reinforcing the all-encompassing nature of the collection, though altogether the vast array of exhibits sometimes struggle for cohesiveness.
    Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Segment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/segment. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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