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This term was coined in 1975 to describe shapes that seem to exist at both the small-scale and large-scale levels in the same natural object. Fractals can be seen in snowflakes, in which the microscopic crystals that make up a flake look much like the flake itself. They can also be seen in tree bark and in broccoli buds. Coastlines often represent fractals as well, being highly uneven at both a large scale and a very small scale. Fractal geometry has been important in many fields, including astronomy, physical chemistry, and fluid mechanics. And even some artists are benefiting, creating beautiful and interesting abstract designs by means of fractals.
Examples of fractal in a Sentence
Danny Robb, JSTOR Daily, 17 Aug. 2025
The researchers found similar results with a fractal known as the Sierpiński carpet.
—IEEE Spectrum, 4 Aug. 2020
McCunn highlights how the multisensory aspects of nature, such as the sounds of birds, as well as the visual complexity and fractal, or repeating, patterns of vegetation, can minimize cognitive load and aid in mindfulness.
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—Victoria Malloy, Outside Online, 21 July 2025
Many natural structures, including coastlines, clouds, and networks of rivers and blood vessels, apparently have fractal geometries.
—IEEE Spectrum, 4 Aug. 2020
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Cite this Entry
“Fractal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fractal. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.
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fractal
noun
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