fractional

adjective

frac·​tion·​al ˈfrak-sh(ə-)nəl 

1

: of, relating to, or being a fraction

2

: of, relating to, or being fractional currency

3

: relatively small : inconsiderable

4

: of, relating to, or involving a process for separating components of a mixture through differences in physical or chemical properties

fractional distillation

fractionally adverb

Examples of fractional in a Sentence

There has been a fractional rise in the price of the stock.

There is only a fractional improvement in the new version.

Recent Examples on the Web

This figure is fractional compared to the millions of riders the system sees daily. —Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026

ETFs, individual stocks, and fractional purchases of physical gold may also come in under $100. —Nick Perry, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026

Flexjet, like several peers, reported record demand in the last quarter of 2025, while the fractional model—where owners purchase shares of an aircraft—was up 24 percent for the year. —Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 31 Jan. 2026

Both are popular with individual owners and businesses as well as fractional jet companies like NetJets and Flexjet. —Michelle L. Price, Fortune, 30 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

fraction + -al entry 1

First Known Use

1650, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing fractional

• fractional currency

Rhymes for fractional

• factional
• interactional
• redactional
• transactional

Kids Definition

fractional

adjective

frac·​tion·​al ˈfrak-shnəl 

-shən-ᵊl

1

: of, relating to, or being a fraction

fractional equivalents of percentages

2

: fairly small

fractionally

-ē

adverb

Medical Definition

fractional

adjective

frac·​tion·​al -shən-ᵊl, -shnəl 

: of, relating to, or involving a process for separating components of a mixture through differences in physical or chemical properties

fractional distillation