fracture

noun frac·ture \ ˈfrak-chər , -shər \

Updated on: 20 May 2018

Definition of fracture

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

See fracture defined for English-language learners

See fracture defined for kids

Examples of fracture in a Sentence

a fracture in the Earth's crust
She suffered a wrist fracture when she slipped on the ice.

Recent Examples of fracture from the Web

Charismatic prevailed and went on to win the Preakness but suffered a career-ending leg fracture while a close third in the Belmont Stakes.

— gabe hauari, The Courier-Journal, "What Kentucky Derby horse won with the longest odds? Here are the top 10," 4 May 2018
Embiid, sidelined the previous 10 games with a facial fracture, sparked the 76ers with 23 points, going 10 of 15 from the line and contributing to the Heat's foul trouble.

— ira winderman, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Heat unable to sustain, fall 128-108 to 2-1 deficit to 76ers," 20 Apr. 2018
Embiid had been out of the Sixers lineup since suffering a facial fracture on March 28.

— andrew joseph, For The Win, "NBA fans had so many jokes about Joel Embiid's unique mask for Game 3," 19 Apr. 2018
When Embiid suffered a facial fracture on March 28, with the Sixers in the midst of a seven-game winning streak, the onus shifted to Simmons to keep the team hot headed into the postseason—and the rookie delivered.

— rohan nadkarni, SI.com, "Ben Simmons Proving He Can Thrive As Philly's Lone Star," 16 Apr. 2018
But nearly seven months after suffering a thoracic spine fracture, the player who arrived in Corvallis last season boasting junior college All-American honors is ready to move forward.

— danny moran, OregonLive.com, "Jake Luton returns to practice, embracing competition to be Oregon State starting quarterback," 4 Apr. 2018
Karamanos, a perennial leading rider in Maryland who earned his 2,000th career victory last summer at Laurel, suffered a minor fracture of his T-5 vertebra when thrown from his mount, Marie From Parie, Jan. 14 at Laurel.

— baltimoresun.com, "Digest: Trainer Gonzalez has 4-win day; Karamanos victorious in comeback at Laurel Park," 19 Mar. 2018
According to a criminal complaint, the accident, which occurred May 24, left the victim with a concussion, several facial fractures, internal bleeding and other cognitive issues.

— steven martinez, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Man charged in Delafield skateboard stunt returns to court a week after warrant issued for him," 6 Feb. 2018
Carr was the latest high-profile quarterback to suffer a transverse process fracture.

— profootballdoc, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Derek Carr's curious transverse process recovery process," 23 Jan. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of fracture

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 ¹break

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Other Medicine Terms

analgesia, angina, diabetes, hepatitis, homeopathy, logorrhea, palliate, pandemic

fracture

verb

Definition of fracture

fractured; fracturing play \ˈfrak-chə-riŋ, -shriŋ\

transitive verb

1 a : to cause a fracture in : break

fracture a rib

b : rupture, tear

2 a : to damage or destroy as if by rupturing

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.

See fracture defined for English-language learners

Examples of fracture in a Sentence

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 of fracture from the Web

In his first game with Helena, Lara fractured his right fibula and dislocated his right ankle on a slide – a mishap that resulted in season-ending surgery.

— todd rosiak, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Gilbert Lara has grown up in the Brewers' minor-league system," 15 May 2018
The impact fractured his skull, leaving him fighting for his life in intensive care in a Budapest hospital.

— CNN, "Motorsport great Felipe Massa to race in Formula E," 15 May 2018
The boy’s mother, Htwe Kiu Chew, suffered a traumatic brain injury, broken arm, fractured vertebrae and a laceration to the liver, according to court records.

— megan cassidy, San Francisco Chronicle, "Four years after crash kills 16-year-old, vehicular manslaughter trial begins," 10 May 2018
The chief physician at the Lahore hospital where Ahsan Iqbal is being treated said the bullet fractured his right arm, then ricocheted and lodged in his abdomen.

— zaheer babar, Fox News, "Pakistan minister said to be stable after shooting," 8 May 2018
In subsequent elections — 2010 and 2014 — this list slowly fractured.

— renad mansour, Washington Post, "What to expect from Iraq’s election on Saturday," 7 May 2018
And to think that all this fracturing into groups, pitting us against them, is happening at a time when the global economy is growing at a solid clip.

— ian bremmer, Time, "Our 'Us Vs Them' World: 5 Reasons Why Globalism Is Failing," 4 May 2018
Meanwhile, the Hall family has fractured even further since Bill Hall’s death and his wife’s imprisonment.

— elizabeth zavala, San Antonio Express-News, "San Antonio woman convicted of killing husband during chase with his lover, seeks new trial," 1 May 2018
Baker fractured his left fibula and tore a ligament in his left ankle.

— stefan stevenson, star-telegram, "Surgery ends TCU slugger Luken Baker's season again | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 18 Apr. 2018

Origin and Etymology of fracture

derivative of ¹fracture

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1612

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year

fracture Synonyms

FRACTURE Defined for English Language Learners

fracture

noun

Definition of fracture for English Language Learners

: the result of breaking something : a crack or break; especially : a broken bone

fracture

verb

Definition of fracture for English Language Learners

: to cause a crack or break in (something hard, such as a bone)
of something hard : to crack or break
: to damage or destroy (something) or to be damaged or destroyed in a sudden or violent way

FRACTURE Defined for Kids

fracture

noun frac·ture \ ˈfrak-chər \

Definition of fracture for Students

: the result of breaking : damage or an injury caused by breaking

a bone fracture

fracture

verb

Definition of fracture for Students

fractured; fracturing

: ¹break 2

fracture a rib

Word Root of fracture

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.