fraction

play

noun frac·tion \ˈfrak-shən\

Definition of fraction

1a : a numerical representation (such as ³⁄₄, ⁵⁄₈, or 3.234) indicating the quotient of two numbersb (1) : a piece broken off : fragment (2) : a discrete unit : portion
2 : one of several portions (as of a distillate) separable by fractionation
3 : bit, little a fraction closer

See fraction defined for English-language learners

See fraction defined for kids

Examples of fraction in a Sentence

a fraction of an inch
if even a tiny fraction of that cookie broke off and fell into the delicate watch works, it could mess things up

Recent Examples of fraction from the Web

This one has a similar albeit more subdued vibe at a fraction of the cost.

— diana tsui, The Cut, "All You Need to Get Through Summer at the Office Is a Good Black Dress", 5 July 2017
A Fraction of the Whole by Steve Toltz (Spiegel & Grau)

— susan swagler, AL.com, "Best-selling "Big Fish" author releases new novel", 29 June 2017
And while only 30 percent or so of the students pay the full price, even the ones with large financial aid packages work only a fraction of that amount.

— ron lieber, New York Times, "Does God Want You to Spend $300,000 for College?", 23 June 2017
Real, luxury handbags come at a fraction of the price.

— kelly poe, AL.com, "Macy's Backstage: A first look and user's guide before Alabama openings", 10 June 2017
All Jimbo’s lagoon really needs, critics of the city plan say, is a soft shoreline of sand, rock and native plants that would cover the old seawall, providing a natural look and function at a fraction of the cost of new steel and concrete.

— andres viglucci, miamiherald, "Jimbo’s quirky fish shack may be gone, but what’s left is now a battleground", 6 June 2017
In morning trading, Eversource shares fell a fraction of 1 percent, to $62.27.

— stephen singer, courant.com, "Eversource To Buy Aquarion In $1.68 Billion Deal", 2 June 2017
NATO’s own budget is just a fraction of the alliance’s overall outlay on defense, most of which comes from national governments.

— esteban duarte, Bloomberg.com, "U.S. Accused of Shortchanging NATO as Spain Reacts to Trump Spat", 1 June 2017
After a journey lasting 3 billion years, that is to say, a quarter of the age of the universe, those waves started jiggling LIGO’s mirrors back and forth by a fraction of an atomic diameter 20 times a second.

— dennis overbye, New York Times, "Third Gravitational Wave Detection, From Black-Hole Merger 3 Billion Light Years Away", 1 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fraction'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of fraction

Middle English fraccioun, from Late Latin fraction-, fractio act of breaking, from Latin frangere to break — more at break

NEW!

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

Other Mathematics and Statistics Terms

abscissa, denominator, divisor, equilateral, exponent, hypotenuse, logarithm, oblique, radii, rhomb

FRACTION Defined for English Language Learners

fraction

play

noun

Definition of fraction for English Language Learners

mathematics : a number (such as 1/2 or 3/4) which indicates that one number is being divided by another; also : a number (such as 3.323) that consists of a whole number and a decimal
: a part or amount of something

FRACTION Defined for Kids

fraction

play

noun frac·tion \ˈfrak-shən\

Definition of fraction for Students

1 : a number (as ¹⁄₂, ²⁄₃, {frac17/100}) that indicates one or more equal parts of a whole or group and that may be considered as indicating also division of the number above the line by the number below the line
2 : a part of a whole : fragment I sold the car for a fraction of what I paid for it.

Word Root of fraction

The Latin word frangere, meaning “to break,” and its form fractus give us the roots frag and fract. Words from the Latin frangere have something to do with breaking. Something fragile is easily broken. A fraction is a portion broken off from a whole. To fracture something, such as a bone, is to break it. A fragment is a part that has been broken off from something larger or that is incomplete.